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Jaune shook his head as heat enveloped his entire body. Any closer to Cinder's fire, and he wouldn't be worried about the sweat stinging his eyes anymore. She continued her usual tactic of using her magic to keep her airborne, swooping down upon him like a bird of prey. For anyone on Team RWBY, or even Nora and maybe Ren, they would have a much easier time. For Jaune, however, he was in the actual worst-case scenario for him.
Cinder swooped down once more, launching a fireball at his armored boots, forcing him to back away. If he was hit, his aura would protect him from the flames, but it would be weakened against the follow-up swinging of her glass blades. She always came from the front, as if to derive some sickening pleasure from the frustrated look on Jaune's face.
She launched another fireball, and jumped back away again, heat flaring over his body that he felt like he was facing an oven. It was bigger, so he stepped further than before, looking down for the briefest moment to determine the extent of the flames.
It was here, he realized, that he made his fatal mistake.
As he drew his eyes up from the inferno, his orbs widened in shock as he watched Cinder charge through the flames, a wicked grin on her face. He drew his shield close to him, but it was in vain, as Cinder jetted to his side at an angle and drove her sword into side under his sword arm. Blood launched from his mouth, flecking onto the dark-haired woman.
"I finally got you." She said, panting.
She pushed further in, and Jaune could feel himself cooking on the inside. He took a step back, but Cinder pushed forward, trying to curve her blade upwards. Tears rolled down as Jaune's breathlessly screamed from the agony. Cinder chuckled darkly.
"So long you have been a thorn in my side," she stared into his eyes, as a revolting glee danced in hers, "and now I am free from your burden." She snapped off her blade, and the rest shattered in her hand. Jaune fell to his knees as light began fading from his eyes. "Farewell, Mr. Knight..."
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"Oh, damn it all to hell!" Jaune watched as his grandmother groaned on her bed. In her hands was an old video game controller, and in front of them both was the dead hero she was controlling. "That shadow is a real piece of work."
This had become a routine for the two of them. While his sisters were outside playing with their father and grandfather, he sat inside with his grandmother, watching her play a number of video games. Sometimes it was the super fast cat, and sometimes it was the jumping construction worker, but his favorite was the knight he watched on screen.
Mythos of Elaine was an exciting adventure for him to watch over and over again. The game's story was simple, as it followed the life and heroics of the young squire turned knight. Solving puzzles, slaying monsters, and saving villagers was never a dull moment for him. He watched grandma play for hours, until he had to go home, but then a curious thought came to his mind.
"Grandma," he asked as she restarted the game, "are you the only one who can do this?"
"Oh, do you want to play?" She asked, pausing the game.
"No, I mean," he pointed to the screen, "are you the only one in the whole world who could do this?" She unpaused and continued playing. "Is there anyone else who could?"
"Well," she said, "as far as I can tell, I'm the only knight in the kingdom, so, yes."
"Can it be anyone else?" Jaune continued. "Couldn't someone else fight?"
"I suppose, but," she swiped down a set of trees blocking the way, "I don't think they'd get very far."
"Why's that?"
"Well, I'm a knight, and that's what knights do." She continued until she reached the boss, where the shadow waited for her, it's sword drawn. "A knight serves to protect the kingdom, and her people." The battle was intense, as she rolled aside and struck from behind. "And in doing so, he protects her people and fights off evil that would harm them."
Suddenly, the boss summoned a black barrier, and all further attacks were in vain. The knight kept up their shield and blocked, as the shadow's blade struck again and again. Hearts fell in threes by every hit that stuck. In was looking hopeless.
"What if you can't win?" Jaune asked, his fingers gripping the sheets.
The battle paused, and in the distance, an old man with a wooden leg hobbled into view, holding a white bow with golden arrows. He fired and struck the black barrier, dispelling it.
"Then you inspire others to." His grandmother smiled, quickly shaking his shoulder before continuing the battle.
---------------------------------------------------
Cinder turned away, ready to fly off to her next victim. The battle costed her much aura, but it was a heavy blow to Ruby's allies. Of all her little friends, this one was the biggest nuisance. He was.
She felt a sudden tug as she moved forward, and saw the battle was not over. Struggling to his knees, blood dribbling from his mouth, but an iron grip in his hands, he stood ready for another round. His aura slowly recovered and the battle began anew.
"Hey!" Just in time for reinforcements to arrive.