A Hero's Dilemma

Chapter 20

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Cover art by: Notgustiarp

Chapter 20

"What are you doing?"

Jaune's eyebrow twitched at the question, breaking his concentration again.

"Just trying to concentrate."

"Oh, like meditating. Wicked!" His Faunus friend exclaimed.

"Huh, didn't think you'd know what that is..." he mumbled. Was it something common in Vacuo he wondered as it was Summer who'd taught him the concept. He kept his concentration up as Sun paced around, swinging his tail idly like a lasso.

"Hmm, so what are you focusing on?"

Oh right, I never told him about that weird part of my Semblance, did I? Or really anyone.

Since even he can figure no one would appreciate having their mind basically read. But like he'd told Summer, if someone was close to him they'd deserve to know-all of them. As a matter of fact...

One quick explanation later and Sun held a tentative face.

"That's so..."

He reflexively leaned back-

"Cool!"

And was immediately caught off guard by the enthusiasm. Honestly though, what was he expecting? This was Sun he was talking about and while he hadn't known the guy for long, he should've figured as much.

"Oh uh, thanks man..." he muttered, warmth spreading across his cheeks.

He'd never really thought someone would find his weird ability as anything other than creepy or an invasion of privacy. It made that little heat creep down his neck as Sun raved about how utterly cool his Semblance was.

"Ooh, ooh! Are you gonna use that to find the kidnappers? Like, sense them out like a shaman?!"

"Not quite," he giggled. "I'm gonna use it to find the kids."

Not being judged but looked at with awe was such a weight off his shoulders. Summer had been the first person he'd told about his sensing ability and, if it'd gone her way, the last.

I still can't believe she thought I'd go along with not telling Tai. Keeping secrets was one thing, but an invasion of privacy like emotion sensing was just...

He got heated just thinking about it. Pouring that righteous anger into his Semblance made it easy to ignore all the funny questions and compliments he was getting from Sun.

"So weak..." he mumbled, feeling the 'tendrils' of his Semblance reach out, raking through only a couple of...feet? Yards?

Okay, so he hadn't quite learned how to gauge distance using his Semblance yet. Or measures of distance in general-homeschooling still and would always suck! But suffice it to say, it wasn't nearly as far as he needed it to scan with how long the docks were, easily stretching on for miles of Vale's coastline.

This wouldn't have been much of an issue if he was as strong as he used to be. Since he'd sensed Summer's negativity alone from Stratford, even with a whole mountain range in the way.

"-Oh! And if your Semblance can do that, just wait till you see-"

"They're not nearby," he interrupted, figuring they'd be here all night if he hadn't. "We should keep following the coastline till I pick up their trail."

Nighttime was fast approaching, and while that would make sneaking around easier, he didn't like the idea of accidentally slipping back into the water in the pitch black.