Professor Arc

Chapter 29

"Misenwood's not unusual, as far as border towns go. It hasn't been around as long as some, little over a hundred years or so, but it certainly has been one of the more successful. Many end with massacres, some don't even get off the ground – but this place is pretty quiet. The town itself lays in the middle of the forest Misen which it takes its name from. Some say that protects them from the Grimm, but I reckon it has more to do with the tall walls and relative proximity to Vale."

"Either way, the town primarily specialises in game hunting, timber and medicinal herbs. In fact, there's so much forest that they have to import in any and all crops or foodstuff. This is about the only place in Vale where you'll find a steak cheaper than its side salad."

The very town itself looked like it had spring from the ground. Squat buildings, all constructed from wood and mud, dotted the roads – which in itself was mostly hard-packed dirt. It wasn't that the people were poor or destitute, they walked with confidence and there were plenty of people talking into their scrolls or with headphones plugged in. No vehicles, though... nowhere to drive with them, he had to imagine. That made the air unusually fresh as a result, and it was possible to smell the trees that surrounded them.

"If anything, Misenwood has a reputation as a pretty dour place. The people are hardy, they either carry lumber or hunt down wild animals. Everyone is used to working outside, and even the lowest civilian knows how to at least buy time if a Grimm approaches. No Hunter Academy, though, nor even a prep school. The town's not big enough for that kind of facility, so anyone from here who wants to learn needs to travel to Vale or Patch. Of course, the best prep school is Signal in Patch, which is where I work." Bran cut off, turning to them with a roguish grin, one thumb held up to point towards his face. "Even out here though, can't stop teaching the younger generation something. How's that for your Misenwood history?"

"Oh, you were talking to us?" Nora scratched her cheek.

"Nora and I grew up here," Ren pointed out, getting a wave from the ginger girl. "So actually we already knew all that... and more."

Velvet yawned, busy typing a message into her scroll, as she had been for the last five minutes or so. Pyrrha looked between the rest of her team and the irritated looking man, putting on a big smile. "Well I thought it was fascinating." The fake-politeness was so thick it could have been used to beat an Ursa to death. Bran sighed, reached down to his belt and pulled forth a metal flask, tipping it back as he took a long drink.

"Funnily enough, you all remind me of the students back at Signal," he coughed once he had finished. He put the flask back slowly, before levelling an utterly flat stare onto the four teens. "They fill me with disappointment too."

"D-Did we do something wrong?" Pyrrha stammered as the man grumbled and wandered ahead. Jaune took the time to pat her once on the shoulder, offering what comfort he could without words. Admittedly because he had no idea what he was supposed to say, but they always did say it was the thought which counted.

"Don't mind him," Tai chuckled. "He just gets annoyed when he's reminded how old he's becoming."

"I'm not old you bastard!"

"Anyway, we should think about making a base of operations before we start the investigation. With how Bran talked to the Mayor I'm not sure we can rely on his support for much."

"I know we accidentally insulted the mayor," Pyrrha erred on the side of generosity with that one. "But if this is a threat to the people that live here, then wouldn't he would put aside any personal offense. Surely no one would put a childish or irresponsible person in a position of authority."

"They would," the two blondes spoke in unison, Jaune thinking instantly of Ozpin, and Tai apparently of someone else. The look he was sending down the street said it might have been Bran. "Don't worry so much on it, little lady," Tai rubbed Pyrrha's head, the girl taking it awkwardly, "we'll find an inn to stay at or something."