An: OK! Here it is! I have been promising this for a while so here you go! The fic inspired by Couer's Forged Destiny is here! Here it Jaune's journey from humble blacksmith forced from his comfortable life by the world and made to go to Beacon Academy of hero's against his will as he is forced to fight and live or fail and die. There are no other options for him Jaune must be a hero or die in the process...

Cold. It was always cold when I woke up. My eyes blurred open and I shifted in my bed. The warm straw scratching my back, as a low groan left my lips as I looked up to the bare stone ceiling loosely stitched together with clay and straw that was my home.
"Time to get up."
I said yawning loudly, my eyes roaming around still dreamily fighting off the last vestiges of sleep that clung to them for dear life. I yawned once my eyes flicking back to life, the last bits of sleep vanquished as I finally got out of bed. It took me a moment to right myself as the familiar cracks! And groans of the wood warping under my feet filled the air.

"I'll need to fix that," I muttered lowly yawning for what I hoped was the last time this morning. Creeping around my dim room, dawning the light leather top that I had worn for the last two years. Dusting it off and sliding it over my head the clothes slid over my face. Even if I could not see them, the glowing red letters hanging above it still read Blacksmith, it was time to start the day.

/ / /
"At least I have a drink."
I moaned as I poured a long tall pillar of water from the small well in the kitchen. The small pump hummed with a glow as it filled my large wooden mug, the fine mug filled with rough wooden hairs that tickled my exposed skin that still reeked of the mead from the saint's day party yesterday. The whole village got together to celebrate the holiday and the mead had flowed like water in a deluge. The effects of the mead were still heavy on my head as I grunted in pain.
"Damn hangover, I usually have the constitution for this."
I grumbled ignoring the many iron daggers impacting the inside of my brain as I groggily made my way out of the deathly still kitchen complete with one lone long wooden table with seats for ten.
"At least no one else is up yet, I don't usually get this level of quiet."
I said gratefully, thanking the light for small miracles such as these. With a family as big as mine, a quiet house was a blessing that did not come often and it was a blessing if it came over every other fortnight. But blessing had their time and now it was time to earn my pay. "Time to get to work."
I said as I put down my mug and went about my day as your average Blacksmith.

/ / /

FISHT!

The sound of hissing water along with a rush of hot white steam filled the air, blue eyes narrowed in on the steam as a spell was cast.
"Burn."
I said as I watched the metal glow a bright orange color as the water hissed and popped! I grunted moving my hands forward as I held the blade deep in the cool water before sensing the timing was right I yanked it out. There was a long hiss fisht! Of water turning into steam as I pulled the blade out of the bucket. Yanking it out in one fell swoop as the glowing orange metal hissed in the air. long drops of water falling off it as it burned. I looked at the blade with a masters eyes, glaring daggers at it as it glowed a bright orange.

"Come on... come on you..." I said eyeing the blade like a falcon would a hay mouse as it turned to from scalding crimson to a deep orange to a brilliant yellow before finally settling down. I took one second to view the result of my handiwork as a low smile split my face.

"Level three. A good level." I said instantly aware of the weapons level as I nodded my head in approval. The weapon was a decent level and would fetch me a good price. easily making up the work I put into and allowing me to do even more work in the future.
Good. A decent level. I'll be able to sell this to a hero for sure.

I thought as I smiled. The weapon now dubbed Obscurus held high in my hand as I inspected my work. "A good blade for a good man. Or woman."
I added the effects of seven sisters kicking in, most of them far older than myself and only the final two younger, and that was by a hair's breadth. I sighed letting a smile spread across my lips as I put the weapon to rest a voice called out from the top of the house, making me set down my work as I heard a feminine shout.
"Jaune! We got some runners from the front of the village! Come and see what they want from us!"
"Yes, mom!"
I yelled as my mother Juniper Arc called for my attention. Normally she would greet the runner herself but she was probably busy with Cherry. My younger sibling who despite being almost ten still had difficulty getting out of bed. Let alone working in the smith like me or her sisters.

When will she finally learn to work?
I thought, sighing deeply. I was the only real Blacksmith or I was the only one that worked as one at the house. My older sisters had long since left home and now worked out of town during the day and returned only at the far hours of the night, father worked in the nearby city of Vale giving him almost no time to come home and besides, my mother and I usually worked alone.

"Might as well see what the runner wants."
I said putting down my blade, reaching for a holster. Even if I was not going to swing it, it never hurt to have a blade on you in the day. Better safe than sorry. I thought strapping Obscurus to my back and leaving the dim dank confines of the basement forge of the Arc family home opening the wooden door relishing the crisp clean Ansel air that washed over my face. Cleaning off the sweat and must of the forge as the sprawling woods and rolling green hills of my home greeted me.

As I walked out I saw a blurring pale figure approaching me the runner, a man named Misha with pale skin brown hair green eyes and a fur hat was running at me in a dead sprint for some reason. Running like his life was in danger as-
"Misha! What's the hurry!?"
I asked smiling as my friend ran over to me as-
"Grimm! GRIMM in the village!"
Misha yelled as my jaw dropped before he could speak a black object blurred over the hill like a massive black ball rolling across the grass before it fell over Misha and ripped him in half.
"Misha?! NO!"
I wanted to yell out in despair. My friend was torn in two ripped into bloody pieces by a ball of black and white. I wanted to scream in protest but another dark object appeared on my right. The massive four-legged monster crawling down the side of my house growling at me as I screamed. The red eyes monster was not impressed at my screech snapping its jaws in irritation as it lept off the building shooting straight at me massive jaws snapping.

It never reached me as a second ball of black tackled me from my right blindsiding me and sending me flying as my legs were yanked out from under me as my vision spun. The Beowulf? As it was called attacked me, from nowhere. Hitting me from the side, the one on the house serving as a distraction. I screamed as I was hit. A claw tearing into my side digging into my flesh as my aura flashed and-
"AHH!"
The monster bit into my throat its teeth flashing out as it leaped onto me. It's weight forcing me off balance as I screamed, hot agony spilled into my veins as its teeth latched onto my throat, as its claws surged forward to my sides. Spinning us both to the ground like tops as the monster's talons by some miracle failed to find any purchase on my thin leathers. Instead scrambling off me as we tumbled to the ground.

Still, it hurt like hell. The monster's claws dug into my flesh as I screamed in agony bolts of white-hot pain shot in into my body. I felt my blood spill out of my mouth, the coppery taste of it hot on my tongue like a sticky syrup on a pastry I saw waves of red, the massive monster pushed back off the ground, leaping back onto me and tearing off a chunk of my neck and ripping it off. Before jumping back my hands fell to my neck where blood squirted out like a fountain. The monster had a piece of my flesh in its mouth like a piece of damn jerky. It snapped up my shorn flesh like it was a scrap of meat swallowing it and growling at me.

As the blood left my neck my legs went weak and I felt my pulse dim and fall. The monster ripping me apart even a glance at my stats showed that my aura was deep in the red.
"NO!"
I yelled taking a defensive stance while the monster was glaring death at me. The massive dog-like beast growling in defiance and rage as I gasped clutching my bleeding neck as I took a defensive stance.
"Get away from my house and family!"
I yelled as the monster dove forward uncaring of the words of the frightened near death human blocking its path. Its claws flashed out, as I felt it. Obscurus, the blade I had just forged was slung on my back waiting to be used. I was not a hero. I was a peasant, an NPC. I had no chance to do this but the monster was going to kill me but still! I would not die without a fight.

"Just die!" I yelled out as I drew the weapon, taking a step forward as I swung the sword clumsily, I was an NPC never meant to experience real combat but now here I was fighting for my life with predictable results. My strength stat, while stronger than most other NPCs was nothing compared to a hero class's but it would have to work, I had no choice. Sword, met claw as I was pushed down. The monster fell on top of me, its teeth snapping as-
"Get off of him!"
A loud feminine voice yelled out as the monster was suddenly turned into red pulp. The thing vanished into a fine red mist as a wall of white rose petals? Filled my vision, as a woman in a white cloak stood in front of me twin swords in her hand and one dead Grimm on her blades.

"Are you ok!?"
The woman said standing over me in a defensive position her gleaming silver blades still slick with blood as I struggled to stand up, blood loss coupled with shock filling my vision with red haze.
"Yeah... I think I'm ok-
"AHH!"
I cried as a claw came from nowhere striking down on my critically low aura sending it to zero as I prepared to die and-
DONG!
My world ended in a moment as the world froze as she heard it. The hero a tall woman a beautiful Ranger with blood brown hair and silver eyes gasped. An Ursa blindsided me from out of thin air, the monster's paw, falling like a meteorite on its way to end my short life, crashed down and-
DONG!
A flash of red filled my vision as the monsters claw bounced off of my shoulder. A burgundy wall of energy appearing on my body deflecting the monster's paw as if it was a pinprick and not an appendage the size of my head as a loud bell tolled out filling the air with an ominous DONG! Filled the air I wanted to scream.
"No! No! NO! NO!NO!"
I yelled as I saw it happening, my class changed, I couldn't see it but I felt it. I felt the red letters that spelled Blacksmith began to chip and crack!
I screamed.
NO! NO! NO! This can't be happening!
I thought, panicking as the Ursa's paw lifted and came crashing down on my neck, threatening to snap it in two as-

DONG!
Another low dong filled the air as my body glowed the color of old blood as a literal burgundy barrier appeared around me. Blocking the Grimm paw like it was nothing sending it spiraling back as the word Blacksmith shattered and was replaced by the word Partisan.
"NO!"
I yelled as I saw my class change as I felt the cold hand of death on me as my semblance triggered. Filling the air with the cold hard DONG! Of my Death's Door as-
FISHT!
The Ursa exploded into a thin red paste as the woman with silver eyes glared at me. Her eyes boring deep into my soul as she frowned once. Putting her twin blood-soaked silver blades behind her back as she began to step forward. "You are coming with me. You need to see Ozpin, now."
The Ranger said glaring at me with a look of sheer intensity, her voice brokered no argument and I knew my fate was sealed. Even I wanted to fight she was a hero I was a peasant I had no chance of resistance, so I quit. I fell to my knees Obscurus barley clutched in one hand hot tears flowing from my eyes as the sounds of burning homes and the screams of my family filled my ears as my normal life ended in a ball of fire...

/ / /

WHAP!

I jerked to the side wincing in pain as I felt my neck almost snapped.
"Sorry! Are you ok? You took a beating back in your village! You want me to slow down?"
The woman the Ranger now know as Summer Rose asked, her hands that I knew from experience could break metal like twigs gripping tight on the reins of the horse pulling our carriage along the dull, hole-ridden path on the way to Beacon academy for heroes! And subsequently the place of my looming and impending death."No... I'm fine..."
I said not looking the beautiful woman in the eyes, my teenage brain, even when threatened with imminent death, was still just that a teenager, and for some reason, I could not quite tear away my eyes from the ample bosom of the woman barely contained in her thin red maille and-
"You sure? Your face is red!"
Summer asked her face wide with a level of concern that I was not sure was fully appropriate on a woman who was taking me to be killed.
"I'm not red!"
"You are red as a beat! Not even my daughter's cape is as red as you are! Do you need some water? Or a prayer? I know a spell that can soothe a fever."
Summer asked her voice flowing like smooth wine. Rolling over me and intoxicating me with its flow.
Easy there Jaune, her charisma is probably higher than yours, scratch that it is definitely higher than yours. Don't let her win you over so easily.
I thought, shaking my head ruminating on not having better stats. I, like every other person in Remnant, had stats that displayed my total physical prowess, including Strength, Charisma, Wisdom, Intelligence, Constitution, Dexterity, and Perception.
My greatest stat, Strength, was eighteen and my lowest, Wisdom, was at seven. I had no idea what Summer's stat's where but I knew that they were easily far above my own. She was a hero after all.
"Umm... Summer?"
I asked hopeful that maybe my jailer could be talked out of taking me to my death.
"Yes? What is it?"
"Where are we going?" I asked the Ranger before mentally berating myself.
Stupid! You know where we are going!
"To Beacon silly! You are going to be a hero now! Oh, I can't wait! You are going to love being a hero! It's so much fun!"
Summer said practically giddy, as she squealed with joy. Her small lithe body shaking with happiness as she laughed.
"What if I don't want to go to Beacon?"
"What? Why would you not want to go? Jaune! You are going to be a hero!"

"But what if I don't want to be?"
"You don't have a choice."
Summer said all joy leaving her voice at once as her tone felt like ice daggers in my neck.
"I... what's going to happen to me at Beacon?"
"Well for one you are going to meet the headmaster, my boss."
"And then?"
"Well... you are most likely going to die."
Summer said, smiling as if she had just told me that I was a secret noble at not about to face my maker.
"What?!"
"You are a Partisan. You were an NPC until yesterday! Today you go to be a hero! Right on time to. If I found you later on then you might have missed this year's entrance exams!"
"So I was found right on time?"
"Yup!"
Summer chirped making me grumble. I was not sure if the luck skill existed or not but if it did mine was in the negatives.
"Do you think I can make it?"
I asked looking for some reassurance as-
"Most likely not. Most Partisans die before they pass their entrance exams. Sorry, but look on the bright side! Those that live tend to become legends! So you have about a fifty, fifty chance of dying tomorrow or becoming a legendary hero! Doesn't that sound great!?"
"A fifty, fifty odds of dying? Not really?"
"Well chin up buster! Cause you are going to Beacon whether you want to or not!"
Summer said again her voice once again perpetually happy making me sigh as the cart was pulled ever closer to my doom as I saw the looming tower of Beacon standing like a massive stone sword in the distance. We rode in a somewhat comfortable silence for a time before I broached a more looming question.
"Summer?"
"Yes, Jaune?"
"Why am I wearing these ropes?"

"So you don't run away!"
Summer said as I held up my bound hands, noting the tightly bound rope that started at my ankles and wrapped around my arms and wrists holding me fast to the cart.
"Can you untie them for me?"
"Nope! If you do that you might try to run away!"
"And if I do that?"
"I'll bring you back to the cart!"
"And if I keep doing it?"
"I'll break your legs!"
Summer chirped as I balked.
"Isn't that a bit extreme!?"
"Not in my book!"
Summer sang as I balked.
"My legs!"
"Your legs?"
"You'll break them!?"
'If you run yes. Why?"
"Don't break my legs!"
"Don't run away."
"I won't!"
"So you have nothing to worry about! It's like I tell my daughter, she's a bit younger than you! I tell her if you don't want a spanking then don't steal a pastry! Same thing you know?"
"That's totally different!"
"How?"
"One is a tap the other is maiming me so bad I can't walk!"
"It's not that bad."
"You would break my legs!"
"If you prefer I can break one leg and one arm, will that work out for you?"
"NO! Don't break any bones on me! Please."
I added not wanting to offend the hero as she nodded.
"So don't give me a reason to! Now calm down! You are going to love being a hero!"
"If I live!"
"If you live."
Summer agreed as I groaned shaking my tight-roped bonds before deciding that escape was useless.
"What happens if I die?"
I asked making the woman go still.
"Then you will die. Your family will be informed of it and your last will, if done, will be read to your family and any treasure or items you have accumulated will be given to them unless you specifically request otherwise. Questions?"
"When do I take my exam?"
"Tomorrow! Bright and early!"
"Great. I can die early."
"Well with that attitude what can you do? You need to get that chin up and put your best foot out there!"
Summer said as I gave up and let the cart take me to my death.

/ / /

"Is this it?"
I asked as Summer herded me down the Beacon hallways. The long flowing hallways of the school seemed to swallow me whole as Summer led us deeper into the school. "Yup! We are here! Time for you to meet the boss!"

Summer said as she forced me onto the crimson carpets of Beacon Academy of heroes, the massive stone walls illuminated by dim torchlight on thier sides that created long dark shadows that chased after me like spindly hands. Making me wish I had died back in my home, as she guided me, the former NPC, to her boss and to meet my fate.

"What is Ozpin like?" I finally asked wondering what the hell this man who would decide how I lived or died was like, while Summer persuaded me down a hall her long skinny finger poking me along as I gulped nervously.
"Oh, he's great! You are going to love him!" Summer said, her voice still bright and melodic as she prodded me in the back.

"Really?"
"Yes!"
Summer said in her perpetual happy tone as I smiled maybe this was not going to be so bad? Maybe this Ozpin was good? Maybe he could see reason! I might be a Partisan but! I was also a kid! I had never fought a day in my life! Surely he would see reason and send me home right?! My family must be worried sick! Seeing a stranger who saved their lives suddenly tie up their only son, hog tie him over her shoulder and take him away must not have been good for their mental health! And if the man was as good as Summer said-
"OK! We are here! Let's say hi!"
Summer said as we stopped before a massive wooden door that opened without Summer touching it. A spell of some kind? Enchanted wood maybe?
I thought as I entered the room prodded gently by Summer. The inside of the interior was warm pleasantly so. A massive oak desk that was larger than most rooms that I had seen stared back to me.

Sitting on a massive crimson carpet that reminded me of fresh blood. A large mounted animal head filled the walls as a crackling fire roared in the background. At the head of the table, a thin old man with skin the color of snow and hair the shade of rain and eye's like Summer's cloak smiled warmly at me.
"Oh? What do we have here? Something interesting?"
The man's voice was warm and welcoming, just being around him set my mind at ease. The man had the word Warlock floating above his head as I gulped.
"Yes, we do sir! Look what I found! A Blacksmith!" Summer said happily pulling the rope still attached to my arms and legs a bit jerking me forward making me stumble forward.
"Thank you, Summer. Now mister Partisan can you tell me your name?"
The Warlock Ozpin asked a gentle smile on his lips as he took a long sip of a steaming mug and-
"Jaune Arc! His name is Jaune Arc of Ansel!"
Summer said as Ozpin sighed.
"I was asking him Summer not you but thank you for your enthusiasm it is appreciated as always."
"Whoops! Sorry, sir!"
"It is ok dear, now Jaune Arc of Ansel was it?"
"Sir! Yes, Sir! I think there has been a grave misunderstanding sir!" I said immediately pleading my case as Ozpin flashed me a curious look. Like an animal that was hearing English and unsure of what was being said to it. I didn't like it.

"Oh? Do tell me what you think said misunderstanding to be? If it is in my power to correct it I will do so."

"Sir! I do not belong here! I'm not a hero!"
"Were. Correction Mister Arc, you were not a hero now you are. I hope you forgive me but not only should you be here you do belong here. Despite your misplaced objections."

"Sir please listen to me! I can't fight!"
"Yet. You can not fight yet. Soon you will be able to fight with the best of them."
"But I can't do that! Don't you think I should go home?"
"Quite the contrary I want to keep you right where you are. Not literally mind you. I won't root you to the spot you stand on even though I could do so easily if I so wished."

The man said flashing me a toothy smile revealing twin rows of what seemed to be far too many perfect white teeth that made my heart pound, twirling his finger as a low pulse of blue energy flowed out of it making me shiver. As I felt a cold hand run up my spine.

"You are going to enroll in my school Jaune. Starting tomorrow you will take the hero entrance exam. There you will start your journey or you will die either way your life as an NPC has ended. It is best if you knew that."
The Warlock said with grim finality in a tone that brokered no argument as I gulped.
"Sir... what will happen to me now?" I asked a defeated tone in my voice as Ozpin smiled an ethereal smile that sent ice water down into my veins. "Tomorrow will decide your destiny Jaune. Whether you live or die. If you live? You will start the journey that thousands have started before you and embark on the path of a hero. If you die? Then your journey will end just like untold millions have already. For what it is worth you have my support."
I gulped my fist balled up as I gritted my teeth.

"Sir, what are the survival rates?" I asked desperately for some hope of return, the smile from Ozpin quashed any dreams of that I might have.
"I was hoping you would ask that. Every year we receive approximately one thousand hero applicants. You are one of them. The hero training program is four years long. In the first year, roughly twenty percent of them will be dead. And that's just the first year."

The man said as despite a roaring fire a ghostly chill filled the room as I felt the cold hands of death dig into my chest. Long, thin, knife-like nails dug into my skin. I felt my breathing hitch as invisible ice daggers entered my lungs, making me scream internally as I began to sweat.

"Sir? Only the first year what do you mean?"I asked already dreading the answer as the man smirked.
"The casualty rate goes up. The next year out of the surviving student's thirty percent will die by the end of the year."

"Thirty!?"
"Yes, and it only goes up.' Ozpin said in a matter of fact manner making my blood freeze in its veins despite the roaring fire that was making me sweat.
"How!?"
"Simple attrition mister Arc. The more you live the more dangerous quests you are told to take on. After that, the third years suffer sixty percent casualties." "That's double?!"
"It is. The third year is especially rough for us. Now after that, the fourth years will do a little better and only suffer around fifty percent losses.'
"Fifty?"
I asked my voice barely above a whisper as the man solemnly nodded.
"Yes being a hero is a dangerous job but it is one that is needed. And those born into the hero caste accept it with a grim duty. It is our duty to fight to save the world from the monsters of darkness. And it is a duty that we will never shrink nor walk away from. It is a mantle that you will also take up as well." "Sir... I don't know if I can do this."
"We will find out soon enough now won't we?"
The man asked a ghost of a smile on his face as-
Whap!
The door to the office was thrown open as a panting haggard voice sounded off.
"Sir! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to be late!" A tired haggard feminine voice shouted as a third party entered the room.
"It's quite ok Glynda. Please take a seat I am just interviewing our newest student." Ozpin said smiling as the heavy panting grew louder.
Did he say, Glynda?
I thought as the clicking of heels filled the air as a woman in her late twenties with long blonde hair walked forward panting hard as she turned around as-

Emerald eyes locked onto mine, as a tall blonde woman with the word Witch over her head appeared and-
"Jaune!?"
"Aunt Glynda?"
I asked as my aunt the literal Witch of Ansel appeared, in front of me, her sharp green eyes widened in fear as she saw the word above my head.
"Jaune?! What are you doing here!?"
My aunt Glynda yelled as her beautiful face fell into one of horror and-
"Aunt Glynda? Do you know Jaune?"
Ozpin asked a sly smirk on his face as Glynda's mouth dropped.
"He... he's my nephew..."
Glynda said a shocked broken tone in her voice as her eyes usually sharp as daggers began to break. Tears formed in her eyes as she zeroed in on my class her eyes wide as dinner plates and-

"Oh light, please no. Not you." Glynda whispered as-

"Really? I did not know you had any family."
"I don't... his family saved my life when I was younger... I owe his mother my life and she brought me into their family unofficially."
Glynda said her voice cracking as the beginning of tears formed on her face as-

"Ahh, I see. Now Jaune, now that I have explained things to you, do you have any questions for me?"

"What are the casualty rates for Partisans?"
"Double that of heroes," Ozpin said as I gulped.
"Thank you, sir, that is all.'
"Good. Summer take Jaune to the sleeping quarters and do keep a close eye on him, do not let him... wonder."
Ozpin said fixing me a firm glare as Summer nodded.
"You got it, sir! Come on Jaune! Time to go!"
Summer chirped as she yanked on my rope making me shout as she began to drag me out of the room.
"Jaune! I'll write to your mother! I'll send a raven!" Aunt Glynda shouted as-
"You don't want to ask Raven?"
Ozpin asked as-
"It's ok aunt Glyn. Don't worry about me. Tell Clem I love her."
I said as Summer dragged me out of the door into the hall to seal my fate.

/ / /

"Why the long face? You look like you just learned you are going to die!"
Summer said chirping as she pulled me down the dim torch-lit hallways of Beacon. Our feet making soft, muffled dents into the rich carpet as long creeping shadows danced and flickered down the hallway.
"I just got told that I am going to die, you will excuse my mood." I almost growled as Summer giggled?
"Oh, you! You don't know you are going to die!"
"I have an almost guaranteed death! What do you think that speech was!?"
"I think it was you getting an option."
"An option?"
"Yes, an option you have a choice. You can go out there like you are already accepting your death like a coward or! You can fight."
Summer said her voice becoming like steel as I gulped.
"Fight?"
"You are a living creature Jaune. Don't give up just cause things are bad. So what you are probably going to die? So what you are not an NPC anymore? Jaune this is a once in a lifetime moment! You get to be a hero! You can be a legend! You can be the NPC who became a myth! Don't you want to be a hero?"

"In my home, I had a family. I love them and they me. I'm probably never going to see them again now. My family my friends they are all probably worried sick! The next time they see me I'm going to be in a box assuming I have not been eaten, burned, lost or fucking stomped by a Grimm!"
I shouted at the hero as-
"Hey! Language! Young man you say that word again and I'll wash your mouth!"
Summer said suddenly back to what I now called mom mode as I sighed.
"Summer I don't want to die."
"Then don't."
"Really?"
"Yes really Jaune, stop being such a wimp! Get out there! If you don't want to die, if you want to see your family again you know what you have to do?"
"No?"
"Fight! Go out there and kick some but! You need to strike down everything in your path! You are a hero! You can fight now! Use that! Get angry! Be determined! If you want to see your family you have to survive!"
"I never asked for this, I just want to go home."
"Nobody ever asked to die Jaune. At least no one in their right mind that is. Life rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing but it has called you. Destiny has called you, now the way that I see it you have two choices."
"One. You can continue to mope and complain and say why me!? Why am I suffering so much! And you will eventually die."
"Or?"
"Or you can go out there. Sword held high and say to hell with you monsters, bandits and ne'er do wells! My name Is Jaune Arc! A partisan! I am a hero and I will be going home to see my family again! Any who stand in my way shall perish under my righteous strikes! You have the ability to forge your own destiny Jaune! That's amazing!"
Summer said taking a heroic pose that looked ridiculous as I laughed, despite myself. Her charisma score evidently higher than mine as I felt a bit confident.

"You really are a good mom huh?"
"I"m the best! OH! If you see my daughter she looks like me! Her name is Ruby! If you see her please do me a favor and look out for her! She is a sweet girl but a shy one. If you look out for her she will watch you back for you in the field ok?"
"Sure, I guess."
"Good! Now get some sleep Jaune and Welcome to the hero Class!"

/ / /

Sleep did not come easy for me. The moment I put my head down on the small hay pillow in the general quarters I swore that I blinked to morning. I groaned getting up wishing that the Light had seen it fit to give me a decent last night sleep instead of making me have a quick dreamless sleep.
I gave one last look down to the makeshift sleeping bag that might just have been the last thing I ever got to sleep on. I picked up the sword that had been my last job as an NPC, the longsword now named Obscurus that glowed a simmering black that rippled in the light. It was a good blade level three. Not bad, much better than most heroes got to use at least. I slid the sword into his sheath sighing once as I slapped my face twice and made my way out of the common room to the massive Beacon courtyard where it was already noon and even so nearly hundreds upon hundreds of hero classes were all ready to go meet there, and now my, fate.

/ / /

I sighed making my way into the mob of densely packed heroes, I saw all kinds of classes out and about intermingling, jostling, and overall acting like this was the best day of their lives. All around me were Fighters, Mages, Archers, Hellions, and Knights. All forming a circle talking about party formations. A Cleric was being pestered by a Rogue to join him and two other members, a Cavalier and a Lancer, but the Cleric was not having it.
To my far right, a massive gathering of what was known as the villain class stood under a large oak tree. Dozens of Thieves, Corsairs, Scoundrels and-
"Beautiful."
I felt the words leave my mouth as an Assassin sitting on top of a large birch tree noticed me, she cocked her head at me as if seeing a mouse in a field of lions. Her amber eyes blinked twice in interest before I tore my head away blushing fiercely as-
FAP!
"AH!"
"OW!"
A voice said as I bumped into something incredibly soft as I saw a girl on the ground in front of me.
"Oh! I'm sorry!"
I said reaching down to the down girl with-
A Reaper!?
I thought as I felt my blood run cold as I saw the red word Reaper on the girls face as a scream was almost ripped from my throat as I froze. A Reaper was here?! A reaper was here?! Of god! Out of all the classes, the reaper was the worst! A subset of the villain class, Reapers were insane! Genocidal sociopaths the reapers relished in carnage and bloodshed! They loved taking human life and bathing in the blood of their victims-

"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!"
The cold-blooded sociopath? Said with the cutest voice I had ever heard. Her head cocking up as I saw twin pools of silver eyes on the cutest! Face I had ever seen staring back up at me. "Do you need help?"
I asked my inner social graces kicking in as against all the self-preservation instincts I held out my hand to a member of the most psychopathic class in existence! The Reaper much to her credit looked just as shocked as I felt. Her eyes widening as my class filled her eyes as she tentatively reached out her thin shaking hand to mine.
Remember Jaune, she's a stranger and a stranger is a friend you have not met! Even if they are genocidal sociopaths.

I thought as I pulled the surprisingly light girl up my eyes narrowed instinctively on her scythe as I automatically appraised it. Poor quality scythe. Level two almost level one actually. She has not done maintenance on it in... months? Maybe ever? I thought as my natural Blacksmith skills kicked in. I, just like all Blacksmiths, had the ability to check a weapon's level. All hero weapons had levels, at each level the weapon would become better. It could do more damage, be used much easier and would have more stats for its user.

All weapons had levels and technically any weapon could reach level ten in theory but that had never happened. Most hero weapons never reached level three. The highest I even remembered hearing about was a level four but that was some time ago. Every time heroes used their weapons they degraded from level to level and eventually, they hit zero and eventually broke. A Blacksmith could fix them but-

"Ruby! Ruby Rose! That's my name!"
The reaper said blushing widely as I had yet to let go of her hand.
"AH! Jaune! Jaune Arc nice to meet you, Ruby!"
I said my face evidently trying and failing to hide my fear as-
"Don't worry! You don't have to worry... I'm not a bad Reaper, I won't hurt you I promise! Pinky swear!"
Ruby said holding out her hand extending her pinky finger in a gesture of goodwill in a far too childlike manner for a mass murderer to achieve.
"I... ok..."
I said still not trusting the reaper to not tear me in half the moment I blinked to fast.
"I... alright. I'm Jaune! I'm-
"A Partisan!? That's so cool!"
Ruby said silver eyes sparkling making me lose some level of trepidation.
"I don't think it's very cool."
"What!? You are so cool! You can make weapons! You keep weapons alive!"
Ruby squealed as I felt a blush come to my face at an admittedly cute girl paying me a compliment.

"Well I'm not that great, I mean I could take a look at your weapon if you want."
I said as Ruby gasped once.
"Really! You would do that for me?!"
Ruby asked blurring!? The girl somehow blurred up to me in a shower of roses as she was suddenly far too close to my face for comfort. Even if she was not a sociopath in hiding having a cute girl around my age that was A interested in me and B not from my village made me blush profusely.

"Yeah! I can do that just tell me when ok?"
I asked as Ruby squeaked.
"Oh thank you! Thank you so much!"
Ruby said jumping in the air as-
"Do you ever stop!?"
A shrill voice yelled as Ruby froze.

"Eep! It's the mean girl! Jaune!"
Ruby said blurring behind me as my head cocked to the source of the voice.
"Beautiful.'
I thought for the second time today as what had to be the most beautiful woman I had ever seen looked at me. Her eyes were sharp like diamonds and a light teal color. Her hair was the color of snow and her dress reminded me of the falling white powder. She had the word MAGE above her head as she saw me, I felt my cheeks reddened as the literal manifestation of beauty looked at me and gasped.
"You are a Partisan!"
She practically shouted as I gulped.
"Yes? Is that a problem?"
"NO! I... I... my name is Weiss Schnee."

The girl said closing her eyes balling up her fist and turning away her head as if being prepared to be struck? Why does she look so scared?
I thought as the girl held her staff a level two staff like Ruby's but unlike Ruby's broken chipped scythe Weiss's staff was on the high end of the level spectrum and was shining like clean snow.
"Ok, Weiss... my name is Jaune Arc, nice to meet you!" I said holding out my hand not wanting to offend the mage as she froze. Her beautiful teal eyes looked up to me like I was suddenly stricken with a third arm. Her eyes opened to saucer-like proportions as her mouth gaped open.
"Did... did you hear me... I said my name is Weiss Schnee."

The girl said her eyes wide and panicky giving her the look of a deer in the face of a Grimm.
"I did... is that a problem?"
I asked as Weiss balked.
"You... you are not running away?"
"Should I be?"
I asked as a wave of panic began to rise in me as-
"No, you should not! I apologize for my rudeness Jaune my name is Weiss Schnee formerly of Atlas. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, and I hope for a long and productive relationship with you." Weiss said taking my hand and bowing deeply as I blushed.

"Uh, I do too?"I said as Ruby finally began to look out her silver eyes wide with fear as she gripped onto my arm for dear life.
"Hey, Weiss I'm-
"You dolt! What are you doing!? Get off of him this instant!" Weiss shouted moving like lighting and literally yanking Ruby off my arm making her eep!
"Weiss! Don't pull on me!"
"Then don't touch people without their consent! Really! Jaune I apologize for her boorish behavior. And I would like to personally assure you that it does not reflect on the hero class or myself! So please take my most humble offering as an apology." Weiss said bowing and forcing Ruby to bow as well making me blush and stutter.
"Umm Weiss! You are a bit close!"
I said as Weiss blushed. "I'm sorry! I was just looking out for your best interest! Some heroes are a bit uncertain."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?"
"It means you act like a Barbarian!"
Weiss shouted as-
"Did someone call for a Barbarian!?"

A loud feminine voice yelled as a massive hammer?! Crashed into the ground next to them as all three jumped back as a massive silver Warhammer with a weapon level of two crashed down into the ground wielded by a fiery Ginger with teal eyes the word Barbarian floating above her head as she grinned.

"Hey, there fellow heroes! Name's Nora Valkyrie! Barbarian at your service!"
The tall ginger girl said saluting them all with a sharp salute twirling her Warhammer that was almost as long as I was tall like it was a twig as she slammed it down next to her feet with a heavy metal clank!

The girl grinned fire cackling in her mouth as-
"Nora! Please do not scare our friends."
A calm irritated voice said as a Monk? Of all things with long black hair swathe in green robes walked up panting next to her as-
"Ah don't worry Renny! We are already good friends and look! A Partisan! Isn't that cool!?" The Barbarian asked pointing at me like I was some kind of pet.
"It is Nora but please. Do not bother him. He is probably very busy."
Ren said flashing me a calm smile that made me finally feel like someone as on my side-
"Oh look! A rare one!"
Nora said pointing to her left as I followed her finger to see a tall redhead, with the word Champion over her face.
"What's that?"
I thought as-
"Jaune! Do you see that? We need to go meet her!"
Weiss shouted as the redhead heard her emerald eyes flashing with worry as-
"How about no. I don't even know who she is but she looks like she's in a bit of a bind with those people around her."
I said as I swore she heard me as her face beamed in my general direction as Weiss gawked.
"Jaune do you know who that is?!"
"No. Should I?"
Ok, that redhead had a hearing ability cause she heard that. Her head jerked to me and a smile that could break the sky split her face and-
"Students! Heroes of tomorrow! Please gather here!"
The booming voice of my aunt shouted as I turned to see my aunt Glynda who looked like she had been through hell and back. Her normally bright green eyes that were full of laughter were filled with worry as heavy black bags hung under them. She had not gotten any sleep last night.
"I'm sorry aunt Glynda."

I whispered under my breath as my aunt began to speak casting a spell to amplify her voice so that the literal hundreds of heroes in training could hear her.
"Listen to me, students! My name is Glynda Goodwitch some of you already know this. If you do then good that introduction was strictly for your peers. If you did not know my name now you do. I am the dean of Beacon I handle all discipline matters and student counseling it is a pleasure to meet you all."
Glynda said taking a deep breath as all eyes turned to her.

"I will not lie to you, in less than a minute all of you will go to face your destiny. I will open several portals to your initiation. For your initiation, you must do one of two things. One. You will be teleported into a town that was recently overrun by Grimm. Make it to the town and back to where you were transported alive and you will be allowed to enter the school and start your journey as a true hunter."

"Two. Survive. If you do not make it to the town and can last until the test ends at duck I will personally come to collect you for your assignment in the school. Should you encounter any Grimm kill them as you can. Do not hesitate to fight back. No one will come to help you, just like in the field if you can not live you will die. There can be no one to save you but yourselves. I hope you have all said your goodbyes to your loved ones for some of you will not be coming home."

The dean said with a grim finality her sharp green eyes cutting into every student making all but the toughest look away, one of the tough ones to hold her infamous glare was the assassin with golden eyes who for some reason had steadily refused to take them off me. The woman was eyeing me like I was a piece of raw meat and had steadily refused to let me out of her sight.

I shuddered, I could feel the villain class' piercing gaze burning a hole in the back of my skull as she regarded me like a falcon regards a mouse.
Maybe she is a friendly villain?
I thought as-
"Now get ready your time has come."
Glynda said as she waved her wand as several massive glowing portals opened up. Twirling silver pools the size of a house appeared with a rolling tempest of winds. The sheer magical power in there made even a non-magic user like myself tense as I felt the raw power flood out of them.
"Step forward, none of you can escape. You are all standing on enchanted ground. Even if you run you will be pulled to a portal.'

"Who the hell is running?! I'm here to kick ass!"
A tall blonde with the word Brawler over her head yelled as several other heroes shouted their approval as Glynda sighed.
"Very well, prepare yourselves, heroes, today your destiny is decided. Do or die students there can be no other options." Glynda said with a tired tone as the first students began to walk to the portal.
"Here we go.' I said Obscurus in hand, the twin handed sword felt good in my gloved hands the weapon felt firm and strong as I began to walk to the glowing silver portals. "Jaune if you see me on the other side I will look out for you."
Weiss said her hands gripping her staff as she walked ahead of me towards her portal.
"Thanks?"
I asked as Ruby bobbed forward her massive chipped scythe that looked ready to break if you swung it too hard bobbing with her each step. "If you can find me Jaune let's team up!"
Ruby chipped before blurring into a portal as the heroes vanished with a hiss! Of air, as the portal came alive almost it's surface becoming like quicksilver as it ate them.
"For glory! And pancakes!"
Nora yelled before grabbing Ren by his arm and sprinting forward into a portal.
"I hope they make it."
I said as I finally made my way to a portal taking a deep breath before stepping face first into the swirling grey tempest as a harsh breath left my lips as I went to face my fate.

/ / /

I felt cold as the portal consume me, it was an odd feeling to fell nothing. All I saw was black as I felt my body stretch, I was somehow pulled in all directions at once by body flattened as I felt like i was being forcibly squeezed through an opening far to small for me as I let out a scream of anguish it was torment but as soon as it began it was over, one moment I was in the courtyard the very next I was in the middle of a large forest with trees taller than my house and wider than a cart. "I guess this is the test?"
I asked taking stock of the forest, surrounding me, I focused my ears using all of my limited Perception to pick up on the sounds and chirps of wild birds filled the air along with the faint blowing breeze that rustled the massive leaves of the trees.

"Ok! Make it to the town. You need to get back home your family is waiting for you." I said to myself, as I began to make my way through the forest, the forest that seemed almost alive to me. Every faint hiss of wind that tickled my cheeks and kissed my nose. Filling my nostrils with the scent of fresh pine cones made me gulp, as I gritted my mouth.

"So far so good... no Grimm and I'm walking steady, that would be good if I knew where I was going!"
I shouted in irritation honestly! How the hell was I supposed to make it to the town if I don't know where it was!? Glynda never told me where it was only that I needed to make it there.
"Great going Aunt G. The one time I wanted you to be meticulous you do this..."
I sighed gratefully now that for once nothing was trying to eat me. Glynda did say that the town was overrun by Grimm. So that meant that there was a distinct possibility that I would be attacked, and need to defend myself.

As I walked through the woods, I decided it would not do for me to have to draw my sword after a Grimm came. Soon in the interests of keeping my head attached to my shoulders, I decided to draw Obscurus in preparation and make my way forward sword held out in front of me swatting away low hanging trees using his blade Obscurus like a common chopper.
"I bet whatever hero would have bought you would cry if the saw this huh?" I asked the blade Obscurus the black metal not responding thankfully. I was already in a crap situation and I did not need to add crazy to my rapidly growing list of problems as-
Crack!
I spun faster than I thought possible. Memories of the last encounter with a Grimm fresh in my mind as I spun just in the nick of time. A Beowulf stood there, it's long canine jaw slathering, teeth longer than my forearm glistening with saliva as it snapped its jaws threateningly. Its massive legs each thicker than my own tensed with pure thick muscle that looked like taught steel and-

With a final snap! Of its jaws, the thing jumped jaws snatching as it growled.
"Well come on then!"
I yelled the monster's legs propelling it forward like an arrow the monster flung itself to me claws out ready to eviscerate the human that stood in defiance to it as I swung down my sword in a flailing arc.

Metal met flesh as the sound of tearing muscle and snapping bone filled the air. The monster cut itself in two. My sword cleaving it in half as it split itself apart in a shower of blood. I gritted my teeth the sheer force of the monster being sliced in two nearly bowling me over as twin grisly halves of the Grimm fell on both sides of me covering my leathers from chest to ankle with its boiling blood.
"HAH!"
I said, gasping in exertion adrenaline flowing in my veins as I felt it! I leveled up! I saw my stat screen flash in front of my eyes as the monster the one monster pushed me up a full level!
"I'm fourteen!"
I shouted in pure shock as I leveled up! This was amazing! I could already feel my stats rising as the one creature gave me more XP than over two dozen forge jobs and-
"I'm invincible!"
I yelled as I slew my first Grimm. The monster already dissipating into thin wispy strands of smoke. This wasn't so hard! How could heroes die to things like this!? I was an NPC until yesterday and now? Now I had gotten my first and hopefully not last Grimm kill, without taking a scratch!
"Ok monsters come at me!"
I yelled wiping the monster's blood on his pants as I walked into the forest two more Beowulf stalking out of the underbrush as I smiled.

/ / /

I was doing good.
"HAH!"
I yelled a feral grin on my lips, my sword splitting another Grimm in half. I slew the monster with a wild yell, my eyes alight with power at killing my third Grimm going up another level! I had leveled up more in the past ten minutes than I had done in the past two years!

The Grimm were so easy! They practically threw themselves at me like lambs to the slaughter! And I had gotten quite efficient at dispatching them. I learned the best way to kill them was to stand still. Let the Grimm leap and hold my sword at a right angle. Allow them to slice themselves in half across the blade and they would be cut in two!

"How can heroes get killed by these things? They are so easy!"I said killing another Grimm watching the monster fall to pieces on my side. A spattering of lien filled the ground! "I love this!" I said smiling ear to ear, not only was killing Grimm easy. The XP was already making me feel stronger!

Up until today, my seven stats were average for a Blacksmith, my highest stat was strength at 18. Though now it was at 24!? Going up several levels! More so than it had done in two years! My other stats were also improved! My constitution, was at 19, a two-level increase, my dexterity was now at 11! More than a three-level increase, my perception was still low at 10, and my wisdom and intelligence had refused to budge with intelligence staying put at 11 and my wisdom sitting at a lowly 9. But! That was still more growth than I had ever experienced, plus I was also getting paid?!

Every Grimm had a drop the Beowulf Grimm all dropped lien when killed. All of them dropped at least twenty Lien and the larger ones could drop as much as fifty?! I had made more money in the last half hour than in all my years working as a Blacksmith as-

A roar filled the air that sent my blood cold. I froze still as death as the lake that I was passing began to ripple. Massive looming thuds, filled the air as the trees began to shake. I gulped as something massive began to come my way. As I felt the ground itself shake I found my legs began to quake as if made of jelly. My eyes shot out looking for the source of the tremors only seeing the forest and a broken clay building by the lake-
A building! The town must be close!
I thought as hope filled my mind as-

Red. Twin red eyes the color of fresh blood and the size of my very skull looked down at me. The eyes full of hate and rage narrowed as I saw the monster.
It was massive, half the size of the trees larger than my house, with legs thicker than the trunks of the trees. The monster was so massive that it even had an HP bar over its head. Its massive canine snout was so large that it could swallow a horse with practiced ease. The massive canine maw opened up to reveal row after row of jaundiced teeth all the length of my body and wickedly curved as-
"Alpha."
I whispered as a massive alpha Beowulf appeared out of the forest it's hateful red eyes glaring pure rage at me as-
The thing jumped. Like a frog on a lilypad. It moved with a speed that for something its size should not even be possible! It leapt at me swiping a paw that was larger than my whole body striking me dead in the chest and sending me flying.

I didn't have time to react let alone time to cry out. One second I was standing firm the next I was launched into the air as a scream left my mouth.
"GER!" I gasped as he felt I heard an ear-splitting crack! Fill the air as a sharp scream left my mouth as a literal tree trunk had been slammed into me. The monsters paw sent me sailing into the air like the shaft of an arrow. My vision spun into fantastic colors of green and brown before-
THUD!
I cried out my body snapping with the force of the impact. I slammed into a tree back first as a sickening crack filled the air. I gagged the breath knocked clean out of my lungs, my vision a blurry kaleidoscope of colors, and my breath catching in my chest, every pained gasp stung link hot needles into my lungs. My eyes watered and puffed up as I fought past the mind shattering pain and checked my hit points.

"10?!" I shouted before gasping in pain, the massive hit by the alpha Beowulf had set me down over seventy-five percent?! Forcing my aura into the red and making my vision dim. Another blow would send me to the edge and-

The ground began to shake. The massive foot beats of the alpha filled the air. The monster sprinted into my vision it's massive paws shaking the ground, it barreled down trees snapping them like they were twigs, it's massive feet carried with what was apparently nothing but pure momentum? How is that possible? Does running really build up that much power?
I thought as-
The thing roared again as it began to run dead at me, I gulped as the monster barrel down on me like a tidal wave as I let a final sigh leave me. I lived a good life, I had a kind and loving home and never once knew hunger or abuse. It was a better life than most and I thanked the light for every second of it.

As the massive thuds got closer I grit my teeth and raised his sword. Even if I was going to die I would be damned if I showed my back to this thing! If I died I was taking a piece of the monster with me!
"Come on you big bastard! You want me, then come and get me!"
I yelled as the monster ran to me jaw open ready to swallow me whole and-
"I WILL FEAST ON YOUR HEART!"
A booming voice said as a figure shout out from above me as Nora!? The Barbarian from earlier appearing out of nowhere leaping into the air cackling like a mad woman before slamming her silver Warhammer down in a punishing arc, landing a clean blow right on its head making a sickening snap!

Of cracking bone fill the air as the monster slammed into the ground with the force of a comet. Making a massive tremor fill the air as I stumbled and almost fell over as it fell-
"Are you ok?" The calm voice of the Monk Ren asked appearing by me his hands glowing a light pink as I groaned.
"I'm alive."
"Good, now if you can still fight let's try not to die ok?"
"You don't have to tell me."
I grunted as we wasted no time. I rushed the downed monster Obscurus raised high as I attacked it. The harsh sound of metal tearing flesh filled the air as I swung and chopped at the monster like a mad axeman.

My sword rising and falling in long desperate hacking motions, the blade slicing bones, and tendons with ease as Nora and I assaulted the downed creature. Out of thin air, the Monk Ren appeared twin small knives in his hands as he began to slice the heels of the monster preventing it from getting up to continue its assault on them.

Not that that stopped it, the Alpha Grimm was a monster for a reason. It reared up a massive roar filling the air that deafened me. I felt my ears sting as a loud sharp ringing filled them. I looked up to see both Ren and Nora tossed to the side as the thing stood up, its beady hate-filled eyes focused on me as it charged.

"Oh come on! I just got here!" I shouted as the monster charged me ready to swallow me whole-
Fisht! A flash of silver filled my vision as a knife? Appeared flying into the monsters left eye stabbing into it blinding it. The Grimm veered to my left roaring in pain a long thin line of blood jetting out from its now closed eye before crashing down with a thunderclap of sound. I looked up as the Assassin from earlier appeared and vanished in a cloud of smoke.

"ALI KORA!" The Barbarian yelled as Nora leaped up, slamming her hammer back into the down monster's side. As soon as she spoke I felt it. The pain left me in an instant as the white-hot agony vanished as fire filled my veins. My strength stat jumped rising to 34 as I felt like I was on fire.
"ALI KORA!" I yelled my limbs moving on their own as-
"Ali kora!" Nora yelled again the spell activating making me surge forward, my strength almost doubled as I drove my blade into the thing's skull!
Blood spattered and bone cracked as I stabbed it! The monster howled, rearing back up as it raised a paw to crush me-
THUD!
The paw was blocked as a blur of red filled my vision as the Champion from earlier appeared blocking the monsters attack with her shield. The girl appeared in front of me like a red wall acting as a living bulwark as she deflected the attack. "

Thanks!"
I yelled as the redhead flashed me a winning smile. Emerald eyes boring into mine as she smirked at me. "It's payback from earlier! And my name is Pyrrha!"
"Jaune Arc!"
"I can tell! Now let's get going I think our friends need our help!" She said as the two of us rejoined the assault on the monster as it roared in defiance. Somehow me, Nora, Ren, and the Champion? From earlier now known as Pyrrha hacked and slashed the monster to death. Killing the monster in a final bloody display as I slashed out its ankles, Ren paralyzed its legs, Nora broke its knees, and Pyrrha gave the coup de grâce impaling it in the skull. Killing the monster and earning all of us a landslide of Lien and other loot to fall from its core as I gained three levels!?

Putting me up to seventeen as Nora whooped in victory pulling me close as she raised her hammer in triumph! The odd party that we made took out time pilfering the loot looking over the various items that dropped from the Grimm as we stuffed our pockets full of Lien and took every last valuable trinket from the Grimm to amplify our stats. Which for me was all of them, soon the Grimm was picked clean and-
"We should still find the town. For old times sake."
Ren said as our misfit party nodded and began to walk back I paused.
"One second!"
I yelled sprinting back to the disintegrating corpse looking over the dead body before finding my prize.
"Aha!"
I said as I retrieved the long silver knife from the corpse. The weapon of the beautiful assassin was a high-end level two weapon and was still warm with Grimm blood. I wiped it off on my pants determined to give the weapon back to its owner as I caught up to my friends as we made our way to the town.

/ / /

"Jaune! You made it!"
The sharp voice of the adorable reaper and potentially not mass murderer Ruby Rose, said as she blurred up to me. The small girl was strangely followed by Weiss of all people. Who I was sure hated Ruby to a greater or lesser degree. The Mage followed Ruby with an irritated roll of her crystal eyes.

"Ruby! Down! Jaune does not want you to choke him to death!" Weiss barked like a guard dog that had just seen its owner accosted by a stranger as Ruby jumped off me liked I was on fire her head hung low like a dog that had just been scolded by its owner.

Weiss shook her head like a mother whose child never listened as she turned to me.
"Jaune, it is a pleasure to see you again. I knew that you would survive and am pleased to see your safe return."

Weiss said curtseying as I saw her snow like dress was splattered with sprays of blood on its end suggesting that there was some type of close quarters fighting for the girl. The battle had been bloody not just for me who even after the battle my health was dangerously low. And my health would need some dedicated healing still I was still lucky. Looking around I saw that while the vast majority of students seemed to have made it back some did not.

There were noticeable gaps in the crowd of students, and many had bloody armor and looked worse for the wear. Most of the survivors looked tired and happy to be back, covered in blood and dirt. Some chatted in lose circles, others drifted alone and more simply seemed off.

The worst of them were the ones crying, the ones who were forced to come back. Their feet glowing blue as Aunt Glynda's tracking spell came into effect. They came back into the courtyard crying and screaming begging not to be put back out there as their legs carried their protesting masters back into the group uncaring of their desperate pleas for mercy, I ignored them.

As Weiss bowed I failed to see the beautiful assassin from earlier, I needed to give her her knife back. I owed her my life, as I looked a large woman in yellow hair moved over to the group, bulldozing the heroes foolish enough or not fast enough to get out of her way as she winked at me.

"Whoa, there sis! You got yourself a man while I was gone?"
The woman who was now a Brawler as her class read gave me a wink her lilac eyes locking onto me as her massive chest that caused my jaw to drop as her bosom caught my eyes.
So big.
I thought my eyes locking onto the ample chest of the brawler that fought to burst out of the tight leather top that she wore openly as-
"Hey there Jaune! See something you like?"
The Brawler teased as I flushed. I hated having my information public! One of the least decent things about being a Partisan was that not just my name hung over my head but my complete stats hung as while Weiss's head read Mage, and Ruby Reaper my head read,
Partisan. Followed by Name: Jaune Arc. Health. 10/85. Strength 24. Charisma 7. Perception 11. Constitution 19. Dexterity 11. Intelligence 11. Wisdom 9. Lien. 267. MP. NA. Hung under my name leaving me nothing in the way or privacy and making introductions moot.

"I! I didn't mean to!"
"Yang quit teasing Jaune!" Ruby said pouting as the Brawler Yang laughed.

"Aw, sis I'm just playing with him! So mister Partisan, how about you take a look at my grieves later on and in return I let you take a look at something else a bit later? Something much softer?" Yang asked as she flashed her breasts at me opening her brown duster that fought to keep her ample pale chest inside making me blush wildly at her.
"I-
"Xiao-Long! Don't tease him!"
Weiss barked making Yang laugh raucously as-

"Students! For those hearing, these congratulations are in order! You have survived your first test! From this day on your quest to be a true hero has just begun!"

Glynda said her eyes locking on my own, her body letting go of a silent breath of air that she was clearly holding in as she let out a breath of relief.

"Take heart but do not rest. The first step is now complete but your lives as a hero have just begun, there will be trials and tribulations ahead of you that will make what you have just experienced pale in comparison. As you can see not all of you have returned, this is not something to look away from! Death will come for all of us, for hero's it is sooner than later, unfortunately. Know that even if you have avoided death today the face and claws of it will find you eventually and you will all face them one day but for now rest. You have all earned it."

Glynda said as the surviving heroes all let out a massive cheer that shook the Beacon courtyard as those lucky enough to survive the initiation let out a cheer of relief that swept over the area like a current, so effective was the cheer even I joined them. I had survived today, despite all odds against me I had lived, and even gained over four levels! If I kept this up I would see my home again one day, I just knew it!

Don't worry mom, dad, Clem. I'm coming home. I thought as the heroes cheered their victory as I let out a shout of camaraderie, as the Barbarian Nora locked my head in a powerful arm lock and rubbed the top making me wince. All the while Yang joked with Weiss who looked ready to cast a fireball at the Brawler while Ruby tired to keep the peace as Pyrrha panicked, unsure how to intervene as they bickered and argued I sighed as the first day of my hero life ended.

AN: OK! There it goes! My attempt at making an homage to a great fic! I know it's not the original and I don't' want it to be! This fic was inspired by Forged Destiny and Darkest Dungeon. Two of my favorite entertainment mediums. While it does borrow the caste system from FD the story is miles apart! I hope you liked this story and until next time! Have some stats.

Name Jaune Arc.

Level 17

Health. 10/85.

Strength 24.

Charisma 7.

Perception 11.

Constitution 19.

Dexterity 11.

Intelligence 11.

Wisdom 9.

Lien. 267.

MP. NA.

Skills

Stroke the flame: Creates heat from hand useful to forging metal. Warning. Only your hands are immune to said heat.

Minor Runesmithing. Can create minor Runes for all stats.

Appraisal.

Can always know a weapons level on sight and can maintain and upgrade weapon levels.

Passive. Death's Door.

When health reaches Zero will activate a barrier to defend oneself that can block physical damage.