Legacy Unbound

Prologue - First Trial

Blood splattered upon his face.

He was too weak. Too weak to do anything—too useless to do anything, enough so that his sister had to pay.

"Carmine!" Jaune screamed, scrambling towards her bleeding form. No, it can't be—she can't—she can't die here!

Carmine glanced at him with a grimace before turning back to the Ursa and used the sharp edges of her bow to cut off its large head. Then she collapsed onto her knee, gasping as the pain finally hit her. She looked around cautiously again, watching for any more Grimm to come towards them, sighing as she realized that that was the last of the hoard—immediately coughing out blood as she remembered how her breastplate had been damaged severely, to the point that it was painfully digging into her stomach.

"Carmine—no! I'm so sorry!" suddenly, her little brother was by her side, and she grimaced as he looked at her injuries—she had to get him out of here, if he stays here any longer—

There was a roar, she turned and raised her bow, creating an arrow with what Aura she could muster up and glaring at the direction of the roar. A Beowolf went out of the woods and she released the ethereal arrow, instantly killing the Grimm as the arrow pierced its head.

Jaune watched this and gulped, looking at Carmine worriedly. He knew what this meant for her—she had practically no Aura left, and neither did he. Even if he did, however, he wouldn't be able to help her at all due to how he hadn't been able to properly manifest the family Semblance yet.

"Jaune." he saw her look at him again, this time with a pained look. "You need to go back, at this rate—" she coughed again, more blood coming out, but she continued, "—at this rate, we're both going to die here."

He shook his head furiously, tears forming in his eyes, "Carmine, no! That's insane, we both have to go back!" He can't leave her here, she would die!

"You can't carry me either, not with this…" she grit her teeth as she looked down to her legs which barely supported her, there was a large gash in her leg, one that went through her armor. Jaune noticed this and immediately carried her over to a nearby tree, laying her down against it. "Jaune, no, you can't—"

"Like hell I'm not going to try!" Jaune clenched his fists, glaring at her even as tears streamed down his face. "Carmine, you've helped me so much—helped me get this far, I can't just… I can't just leave you here without trying at least."

Carmine frowned at him, but didn't say anything as he glowed white, his Aura flickering slightly as he tried to manifest it. He had his eyes shut as he laid his hand upon her form. She chuckled, letting her hand run through his hair, as bloody as it was.

"Jaune…" she whispered softly, feeling herself weaken even as her brother desperately tried to use his Semblance on her. "It's okay… I'll be…" she sighed and closed her eyes, leaning forward to hug him, even if it hurt, even if it reminded her of her fate. She was okay with it. "It's okay to fail—it's okay to lose something—" she coughed out blood again, "—or someone… just please… don't let their memory bog you down. Don't let my memory stop you from moving on… okay?"

Jaune cried, hugging her desperately. "But… Carmine…"

"Shh… Jaune. You need to go. Please… if not for yourself, then for our siblings…" Carmine whispered, rubbing his back, even as she felt her consciousness fade away. "I love you, Jaune. I have one last wish…"

"Anything, Carmine! I love you, I—"

"Alba Mors… Take care of her for me, will you?" Jaune paused at that. "Please… she will gratefully aid you in your journey…"

"But she's not—"

"Please, Jaune! I want you to remember me always by your side, and Alba will help with that. I know what would happen if you were to remember me by my death—please don't do that. At least with this… you'll have a living memory to remember me by." Carmine begged, looking Jaune in the eyes as she handed her weapon to him.

Jaune hesitated, looking down at the offered weapon.

He knew how much it meant to Carmine… and yet for her to give it to him like this…

"Jaune! Please! I'm not going to last any longer—" she coughed again, this time even more blood coming out, making Jaune panic as he took the Alba Mors from her. He hurried to unlatch her armor and grimaced when he saw her chest, seeing the blood coming out of it. She gasped and looked up at him, this time giving him a pleading look as she took his hand. "Jaune… you know the ritual. Please. An Arc cannot go back on their word…"

Jaune gripped Alba Mors in his hand and grit his teeth, after a moment, however, he stood up, and aimed the weapon at her. He saw the weapon glow a slight golden hue in his hands and he couldn't help but cry.

Carmine smiled. "Remember, Jaune, just like I taught you… Raise the bow…" he raised it, "Form the arrow—think of a small pointy stick…" at that, he made a golden ethereal arrow, one made of what Aura he still had, "Place the arrow in the bow…" he placed it, "Aim at your target once more…" he aimed it at her… straight at her heart. "Pull the arrow back…" he pulled it back along the bowstring… "Take a deep breath…" he took a deep breath… "And… release."

He released it.

As he released it, he closed his eyes and recited a chant.

"For there is life beyond death, and a journey beyond life, I, Jaune Arc, male heir to the Arc Family, thirteenth scion to the line, and herald of the New Age of Remnant, hereby declare upon my right as an Arc and as a brother to this young woman, Carmine Arc, her soul to be set free, unbound from the chains of this earthly realm and towards a journey beyond death. By these words, I declare you, Carmine Arc, free from the shackles of this world!"

He took a deep breath as he finished his chant, silence surrounding him. He opened his eyes and let his tears fall, but he did not cry.

He turned.

He turned and walked away, walked as far away as possible.

As far away from the bright white light that shined up to the skies.

"You will not be forgotten…" he muttered, looking down to Alba Mors, his grip on it tightening for a moment, "Not by me…"

He walked through the forest once again, and for the first time ever since he'd stepped foot into here, there was no life.

No Grimm, no animals… just him.

He, Crocea Mors, and Alba Mors.

Just… them.

After a long walk, he finally arrived back at their town and saw the people waiting for them. But only he arrived.

They were all silent, even his family. They must have seen it. The beacon that signified the death of yet another Arc.

He'd only seen it once before, but now… now he'd seen it twice.

He looked to his father for a moment, an understanding coming between them, and he averted his gaze, looking down to the ground.

When did it start to rain?

A/N: Ah... new story again. I'm really sorry for putting up so many new stories, but I promise I'll work on this one and VIII more often. Dice of Destiny is yet to be seen, but I have plans for this and VIII at least, so we'll see how those go. May do weekly chapters on this if it garners enough interest. Also, Jaune may not be the only one who's stronger and more mature here...