Chapter 1: Introduction
"So... Ozpin just gave you this? No warning, no oversight, no nothing? Just: here you go Mr. Arc, be responsible?" Pyrrha asked as she looked up from the faintly glowing book that sat on the table between them.
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over her red hair, making it shimmer like a flame. She was sprawled on Jaune's worn-out couch, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity and a hint of mischief. Jaune, on the other hand, was perched on the edge of his seat, his blonde hair falling over his blue eyes as he stared at the mysterious package that lay open on the coffee table.
He shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, just dropped it off. Said it was a 'gift' or something. I mean, who gives a relic as a gift?
And why me?" Jaune chuckled nervously, trying to hide his unease. He glanced at the book again, its leather cover worn and its pages yellowed with age. It seemed innocuous enough, but there was something about it that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Pyrrha rolled her eyes, pushing herself up from the couch. "Jaune, you're overthinking it. It's just a book." She walked over to the window, the sunlight catching her profile, highlighting her strong jawline and the curve of her neck. She was dressed in her usual training attire, her athletic build evident even under the loose fabric.
Jaune couldn't help but notice how the sun seemed to love her, how it danced on her skin, making her seem almost ethereal. He shook his head, pushing the thought away. Now was not the time to get distracted.
"Just a book?" Jaune echoed, his voice laced with skepticism. "Pyrrha, this isn't just any book. It's a relic. A Relic of Change, according to Ozpin. And you know what that means, right?"
Pyrrha turned to face him, her expression serious. "It means it's powerful. And it's yours. So, what's the big deal?
You've got a powerful artifact. Use it, change something. It's not like you're going to turn Beacon into a pumpkin patch," Pyrrha said, her voice light and teasing. She walked back to the couch, her steps sure and confident. She was always like this, Jaune thought, always ready to dive headfirst into the unknown. It was one of the things he admired about her, even if it sometimes made him nervous.
Jaune sighed, running a hand through his hair again. "It's not that simple, Pyrrha. This isn't some toy. It's a responsibility. I mean, what if I change something... important?
What if I mess up? What if I change something and it's not for the better?"
Pyrrha sat down next to him, her expression softening. She reached out, her hand resting gently on his arm. "Jaune, you're always so hard on yourself. You're a good person. You care about people, about making things right. That's why you're a good fighter, why you're a good person. You wouldn't change something just to change it. You'd think about it, you'd consider the consequences."
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And besides, what's the worst that could happen? You change something, and it's not what you wanted?
You fix it. That's what you do. You're not some reckless teenager playing with fire. You're Jaune Arc, the guy who saved Beacon from a monster, who stood up to Ozpin when no one else would. You're the guy who's always got your friends' backs, who's always ready to lend a hand. So, you change something, and it's not what you wanted? You fix it. That's who you are."
Jaune looked at her, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. But all he saw was sincerity, confidence, and a hint of something else - a challenge, perhaps?
A dare? Jaune felt a spark ignite within him, a warmth that spread from his chest to his fingertips. He took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving hers.
"You know what, Pyrrha? You're right. I'm not some reckless teenager. I'm Jaune Arc, and I can handle this. I can handle the responsibility that comes with this relic," he said, his voice steady and sure. He reached out, his hand hovering over the book for a moment before he grasped it, feeling the faint hum of energy beneath his fingertips.
Pyrrha grinned, her eyes lighting up.
"That's the spirit!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "So, what are you going to change first?"
Jaune chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know, Pyrrha. I mean, I haven't even figured out how this thing works yet. I don't want to go around changing things willy-nilly."
Pyrrha rolled her eyes, but her smile remained. "Fine, Mr. Cautious. Let's figure it out then." She leaned in, her eyes scanning the pages of the book. "Any clues in there?"
Jaune opened the book, flipping through the yellowed pages.
The script was unlike anything he'd seen before, intricate and flowing, with symbols that seemed to dance under his touch. He frowned, tracing the lines with his finger. "I can't read this, Pyrrha. It's not in Remnant's common tongue."
Pyrrha leaned in, her eyes scanning the pages. "Hmm, that's odd. Ozpin didn't mention anything about a language barrier." She pointed at a symbol that looked like a stylized sun. "But look, this symbol keeps popping up. It's like a signature or something."
Jaune nodded, flipping back to the beginning of the book.
"You're right. It's like a watermark. It's everywhere." He traced the symbol with his finger, feeling a faint pulse beneath his touch. "It's almost like... like it's alive."
Pyrrha's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "Alive? Jaune, that's... that's not possible, is it?"
Jaune looked up at her, his expression serious. But I think we're about to find out." He closed the book, the symbol fading from his finger. He looked around the room, his gaze landing on the half-eaten pizza on the coffee table. "How about we start small?
Like, really small," Pyrrha suggested, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She gestured towards the pizza. "That thing's been sitting there for days. How about we change that?"
Jaune raised an eyebrow, looking at the pizza. "You want me to use the Relic of Change to... make a pizza fresh?"
Pyrrha shrugged, a grin spreading across her face. "Why not? You said it yourself, you don't know how it works yet. Might as well start with something simple, right?"
Jaune hesitated, looking back at the book. He knew Pyrrha was right, but the idea of using the relic to change something so trivial felt... wrong.
He looked back at Pyrrha, her eyes sparkling with amusement and a hint of challenge. He took a deep breath, trying to push away his doubts. "Alright, let's do it. But if this thing turns the pizza into a sentient being, I'm blaming you," Jaune said, a small smile playing on his lips.
Pyrrha laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Deal. Now, what are you going to do?"
Jaune looked at the pizza, his brow furrowing in concentration. He closed his eyes, taking a moment to center himself.
He wasn't sure how this relic worked, but he figured it couldn't hurt to try something simple first. He thought about the pizza, about the way it should look fresh out of the oven - the cheese bubbling, the crust golden and crispy, the smell of melted cheese and warm dough filling the room.
He opened his eyes, focusing on the pizza. He reached out with his senses, feeling for that faint hum of energy he'd felt earlier. It was there, pulsing beneath his fingertips, waiting. He took a deep breath, and then he willed it to change.
Nothing happened.
Jaune blinked, looking at the pizza.
"Maybe you have to write in it what you want?" Pyrrha said as she looked over the Relic.
"It's like a spellbook. You might need to write down your intentions."
Jaune nodded, his mind racing. I should have thought of that." He reached for a pen from the cluttered coffee table and flipped the book open to a blank page. He took a deep breath, trying to focus his thoughts.
Suddenly letters, as though someone was writing began to appear.
"Rule 1: you must name the subject, either by name if a person, or if subject is inanimate object, you must name the subject and give a detailed location of where the object is.
"Rule 2: You cannot unmake something, or someone.
"Rule 3: Only the writer of the writer will be aware of the change."
Jaune read aloud, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of the cryptic rules. He looked up at Pyrrha, who was watching him with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"So, I guess I need to name the subject and its location," Jaune said, more to himself than to her. He turned back to the book, the pen hovering over the page. "Okay, let's try this again."
He wrote carefully, his hand steady despite the butterflies in his stomach. "Pizza on the coffee table in Jaune Arc's apartment." He paused, looking at the words. They seemed so... ordinary. He shook his head, pushing away his doubts. He closed the book, feeling that hum of energy again. He focused on it, willing it to change the pizza as he'd written.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the pizza began to change.
The crust started to darken, turning a rich golden brown. The cheese on top began to bubble and melt, the scent of fresh, warm dough filling the room. Jaune watched in awe as the pizza transformed before his eyes, the half-eaten slices becoming whole again, the cheese melting perfectly, the crust crisping to a golden perfection.
Pyrrha leaned in, her face a picture of confusion. "Jaune... when did you order pizza?"
"Right... Rule 3." Jaune said to himself.
"I didn't, I used the Relic to change the pizza and it worked!" Jaune grinned , his eyes wide with excitement and disbelief. He looked at the pizza, now perfectly fresh and ready to eat, and then back at Pyrrha, who was staring at him with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Jaune, that's... that's incredible," Pyrrha breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached out, her fingers hovering over the pizza before she pulled back, as if afraid to touch it. "You actually did it. You changed something."
Pyrrha then grinned, "so how about we use this book to make things... more fun."
She tore off her sports bra and tossed to the floor, letting her tits swing free.
"Go on Jaune..." Pyrrha grinned as she squeezed her modest boobs. "Do something to me."
Pyrrha's voice was low, her eyes challenging as she stood before Jaune, her chest heaving slightly. She had taken off her sports bra, her red hair cascading down her shoulders, her green eyes locked onto his. Jaune swallowed hard, his eyes flicking from her face to her breasts, then back up again. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through him.
"Pyrrha, I... I don't know if that's a good idea," Jaune stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked at the book, then back at her. "I mean, I don't know what this thing can do.