I was once weak, now look at me

Chapter 29: Queen of the Full Moon

The Lands Between, Liurnia of the Lakes, Academy Gate Town, Night

'The night sky is incredibly beautiful here,' Jaune thought as he strolled through the rune-etched streets of the Academy Gate Town, heading toward the gate that led to the academy itself. It was a breathtaking sight—stars scattered across the night sky, their light mingling with grand clusters of stardust that painted a stunning canvas against the darkened heavens. Even the dark moon appeared radiant; he'd seen many moons before, but this one outshone them all in its brilliance. Yet, one obstacle marred the view—the towering Erdtree, its shining light both blocking and tarnishing the celestial display.

After waking, Jaune felt surprisingly refreshed from a restful sleep. It was quite odd, but he felt as if someone was softly petting his head as he slept—though he dismissed it as a vivid dream of Aerith doing that, knowing that in reality, his shadow soldiers would have prevented anyone from approaching him while he rested. He silently thanked Fia for lending him her bed before heading out. On the lower levels of the hold, he found Nepheli, utterly despondent over her adoptive father's abandonment, her emotions overwhelming her. He also caught up with D, sharing details of his encounter with Gurranq, and learned that D knew Rogier, with whom he had traveled in the past before they parted ways.

After leaving the Roundtable Hold, he headed directly to the academy without hesitation. Upon arrival, he found the water filled with corpses, their bodies riddled with large holes. Before Jaune's arrival, the shadow crayfish he left patrolling the lake had already taken care of the enemies, snipping each one from a safe distance before finishing off the survivors. In the ruins of the town, he found Diallos standing over the body of his fallen servant, whom he was desperately searching for. Jaune remained silent, understanding the pain and desire for vengeance that drove the man, as he vowed to hunt down those responsible for his friend's death.

Approaching the academy's gate, Jaune examined the shimmering blue barrier designed to both protect the institution and keep outsiders out. He knocked on it with his knuckles, testing its strength and finding it to be incredibly dense and formidable. This proved no problem for him. Jaune opened his mouth and inhaled sharply, consuming the magic energy forming the barrier to create a sizable hole for himself. However, before he could slip through, the breach rapidly sealed itself, leaving him outside once again.

"A barrier strong enough to keep everybody out, yet capable of self-repair—these sorcerers will make excellent additions," Jaune said, impressed by the durability of the protective ward. Next to it, he noticed a lifeless body clutching a crumpled piece of paper tightly in its hands. Carefully picking it up and examining it, Jaune realized it was a map marked with detailed notes indicating a meeting place to acquire an item that would grant access to the academy. He pulled out the map Fia had given him to study it further while summoning his shadow soldiers.

"Greyll, you and the Crucible Knight are to head to the meeting spot indicated on this map. Godrick, you'll take the Sentinel, Nerijus, some knights, and other soldiers from the normal class, but you will also serve as the human shield throughout this operation. The whispers will guide you to the knifeprint. Bring back anything of value you find," Jaune ordered, handing the two maps to the Crucible Knight and Godrick, along with the Beast Eye for Godrick in case there's Deathroot where they're headed. The Crucible Knight mounted Greyll's back and took off toward the location, while Godrick led his team to the spot marked on his map, guided by the whispers to locate the needed item. As both groups departed, Jaune refocused on the barrier. He once again created a hole and slipped inside before it sealed shut. Inside the academy, he ascended the long ramp toward the entrance, only to find it not as deserted as he had expected; there, he saw Yura engaged in combat against another bloody finger.