Forged Destiny [Book 3: Ch. 8]

"You asked me what being a Champion meant. You asked me about my Class."

"Oh, that," I said. "I remember. You told me it was just a glorified Warrior Class."

Pyrrha smiled bitterly.

"Oh," I said. "That was a lie, huh?"

"M-More of a half-truth. You said yourself that I fight much like a Knight, and one could argue that a Knight is a variation of the Warrior Class as well. I didn't lie, per se." She sighed and looked away. "I just hid the things I didn't want to say."

"What is a Champion, then?" I asked.

"A Champion is a Prestige Class. With your upbringing, you might not know, but Prestige Classes are those born into a Class so rare that their birth is documented and recorded. They are considered special, and are often more powerful than similar Classes." Pyrrha's eyes roved upwards, to the words that hung damningly above her head. "I was born as a Champion. In recorded history, there have only been a dozen or so of those, and never more than one a generation. I believe there is only one other Champion who lives at this time." She smiled. "He's the personal bodyguard to the King of Vale."

My mouth fell open. The bodyguard to the King of Vale? That was far beyond what I could ever hope to aspire to, and likely what any of our Guild could. I'd never even seen the King, what with Ansel being only a small place and the King never leaving the city. That said, I could only assume it meant the other Champion was incredibly strong.

"I was offered that position in Mistral."

"W-What!?" I choked.

"Not immediately, but in time. I'm still young and inexperienced, but it was suggest that I shouldn't bother learning in an academy like Beacon or Haven. The Royal family were willing to pay for me to have private tutors and tuition, whatever I wanted, so long as I pledged my loyalty to their son."

"That's… that's insane…"

"There were even suggestions I could marry him if I wished." Pyrrha sighed. "He is eleven years old."

"That's…" I didn't know what to say. Nice? Horrible? Weird?

"I said no, of course. They didn't take it well. I wasn't forced out of Mistral if that's what you're thinking, but life there became… awkward. My family were horrified at what I'd done. We have always been a proud and honourable Warrior family. Nikos stands for victory!" she shouted. "Or at least, that's what my father taught me. A Nikos always wins. A Nikos never loses. When I was born a Champion, it was a huge step for the family. When I rejected the position of the Prince's Bodyguard, it was a stain on our honour."

"It's your life to live, isn't it?" I asked, worried. "Surely they can't force you."

"They could, but they wouldn't." Pyrrha waved a hand. "The King and Queen were disappointed, but aren't particularly cruel. It would also be a bit counter-productive to insult and upset someone, then give your son to them. The offer is an open one, or so I was told. My family continued to try and convince me to take it, however. The power and glory such a position would entail. Only a fool could give it up."

I watched her sigh and slump in her seat. There was something about the whole conversation that felt surreal, and it took me a minute to realise what. "If you'll forgive me saying, Pyrrha. You don't exactly fit the image of someone with power and influence." I laughed. "I mean, I've tried to give you command numerous times when we were in that Dungeon and you kept fighting me off."

Pyrrha smiled happily. "I suppose that's it. Despite being born to the Nikos family, I just don't think the same way. I don't like being special. I don't crave power and influence, and I couldn't care less about glory." She looked to me. "If I told them I was part of a Guild and not the leader, they would go ballistic. They would never accept it, and would likely try to pressure you into giving power to me."

"Do you want the position?"

"No!" Pyrrha paused as she noticed my teasing smile. She slugged my arm and giggled. "Don't say that. I like things as they are. I like how people just see me as part of the Guild and not something else. I hate being elevated. Alone."

"What was it like back in Mistral?" I asked. "Outside of your family, I mean."

"It was lonely and jealous. I was special and others weren't, and the words above my head were a constant reminder. Teachers would give me extra lessons and ignore other students. My peers would get angry, and they had a right to. By my very presence, I sabotaged their education. I improved at their expense."

"That wasn't your fault…"

"Not my intent, no. But my fault?" Pyrrha shrugged. "It was my fault, Jaune. I don't blame myself for it, but it absolutely was my fault it happened. Or rather, it was the fault of my Class. Had I been a normal Warrior, no one would have batted an eye." She took a deep breath. "Things didn't get better as time went on. You need to understand that a Prestige Class comes with more benefits than just position. We are stronger than our equivalent Classes – unfairly so. No one could stand up against me, and that led to many strained friendships. What friends I thought I had stuck with me for the influence I offered, while those who might have been real friends were pushed aside and displaced. Others, I lost due to their inability to keep up with me."

Pyrrha sighed and stood up. I followed behind.

"A Champion stands alone," she went on. "They stand above the common rank and file. In times of old, they were the ones called on to settle the fate of Kingdoms in one on one combat. Tens of thousands of lives would be wagered on a person like me. Things are different now, but that stigma remains. A Champion like me shouldn't be Questing, or saving lives." She gestured to the tavern. "I should be stood next to someone important in armour of solid gold, an imposing figure seen more for the title above my head than what I am. At least, that's what my family always say."

"Then forget what they say."

Pyrrha's eyes widened.

"Forget what they say, and forget what happened with Champions in the past. You came away from Mistral to get away from that and you have. Things are different here."

"Not as different as you might think. Weiss approached me for my Class. Others did as well. I've already heard it said that it is inevitable defeat that awaits those who face me." Pyrrha's voice sounded like it might break. "Even my Passive tells me I shouldn't be doing this."

"What is your Passive?"

"Haven't you realised?" she asked. "I used it against Merlot, but also tonight with the Griffon."

The moment when her eyes glowed green in the night. I'd seen it, of course, but hadn't been able to tell what happened. It could have just as easily been a Skill. Pyrrha noticed my hesitation and chuckled.

"My Passive is a dramatic Stat boost whenever I am fighting an enemy, but am not close to an ally. The range is quite wide, so more often than not, it means when I'm fighting without anyone to help me at all." She smiled bitterly. "It's called `She Who Stands Alone`."

So called because she would be on her own when it kicked in. Pyrrha would be alone, and without anyone to help her. It sounded like a powerful ability, especially if it was enough of a boost to let her fend off one of Merlot's tentacles, or divert a Griffon mid-flight.

Powerful… but undeniably cruel.

"It's like even my Passive is telling me I should be alone…"

"Screw it."

"W-What…?"

"Screw it," I growled. "Ignore it. Toss it in a river." My hands tightened into fists, and I knew my eyes blazed with barely concealed fury. How could I be blamed? Classes and Passives, the things we were born with, determining what we had to be? This was exactly what I faced off against. "If your Passive only kicks in when you're on your own, then it's a damn shame we won't be able to rely on it for anything, but that's all it is. You're not on your own, Pyrrha, and that's not going to change anytime soon!"

"But my Class-"

"Is a word above your head and nothing more. You told me you were a glorified Warrior. Has that changed?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Then it hasn't changed." I said, and slashed my hand across my chest. "You're part of our Guild. You're a Hunter like the rest of us. That takes precedence over Class, Caste or anything else. Velvet is a Hunter, too. It's on her contract. If part of the Labour Caste can be in our Guild, then do you think some pompous Prestige Class can't?" I stared into her eyes, forcing my will on her as best I could. "You're Pyrrha to me, and to the rest of the Guild. Sure, Weiss probably wanted you for your Class at first, but now she doesn't even look twice at it. The rest couldn't care less."

Pyrrha stared at me.

"I don't care what Class you are. You're stuck with us anyway. Until the debt to Torchwick is paid off, you can't leave, and once it is paid off, you're not allowed to leave either."

"Is that fair?" she asked. Her eyes wouldn't meet mine, but there was a tiny curl to her lips. "That sounds awfully draconian. Am I a slave to the Guild now?"

"Yes. If that's what it takes." I crossed my arms. "You're our prisoner, a hostage. You're not allowed to leave until we receive our random from Mistral."

"And how much have you demanded?"

"Too much. I didn't bother to send it. They'd have just said no."

There was a moment where we stared at one another, the noise from the celebrations washing over us, but neither making a move to speak. Pyrrha's emerald eyes met mine, and it seemed they were searching for something. After a few long minutes, she broke eye contact and chuckled.

"I think… I think a part of me knew you would be like this. I knew you'd accept me. That's why I wanted to get it off my chest, to let someone – anyone – know. I was nervous at first. You were kind and polite when we first met, but I thought that might be a trick. Even when we fought together, I was still uncertain. I kept waiting for you to turn around and ask me for something. I kept expecting the worst."

I wasn't sure why she kept speaking, but Pyrrha was smiling now. That, at least, filled me with confidence.

"I think things changed around the time of the Dungeon," she continued. "It was when you introduced Blake to us. I couldn't believe it. A Knight and an Assassin going into a Dungeon together? It was either the start of a bad joke, or a cautionary tale, yet you treated her like any other person." Pyrrha grimaced. "You did that even when I could not. I watched your back the entire time, prepared for the dagger that never came."

"She-"

"Isn't like that," Pyrrha interrupted. "I know. Whatever Blake is, she is a person just like you and I. Not exactly the most sociable of people, but someone I can respect nonetheless. It was then that I started to realise you maybe didn't care about Classes. It still took me this long to get it off my chest… I guess I was nervous."

"It's fine," I said. "Are things better now?"

Pyrrha smiled and stepped forward. Her arms engulfed me in a hug. "Yes."

I returned it warmly.

"Sometimes I wish I'd been quicker," she whispered. "If I'd felt confident enough to move sooner, I might have tried for myself. Before someone else caught your attention, that is. I guess I can be happy with what I have." She squeezed a little tighter. "Thank you for being my friend, Jaune."

When she pushed away, the fear and doubt was gone. In its place was a radiant and confident smile.

—Forged Destiny [Book 3: Ch. 8]