Vex stopped just outside the hangar doors and turned toward Jaune. "Now that you've got the lay of the land, it's time to get you set up with the good stuff. Properly."
Jaune tilted his head. "Set up?"
"Equipment," she said matter-of-factly. "You've seen the people walking around in armor, right?"
He nodded, instantly recalling the operatives he'd passed in the corridors earlier. Some were in matte-black suits with faint glowing lines tracing along the joints, others wore sleeker versions with color-coded accents and integrated visors. They looked like something between futuristic soldiers and sci-fi commandos. He'd tried not to stare, but it was hard not to when every single one of them looked like they could have stepped straight out of a sci-fi-drama.
Jaune felt a small spark of excitement bubble up in his chest. "I get one of those?"
Vex smirked. "Something like that. These are also called rune frames. The heavy ones you saw in the hangar are Titan-class, but those are for very specific missions in the dream realm or used in emergency when the waking world requires them. What you'll be issued is a personal combat frame—lighter, more flexible, designed for extended wear in both the waking world and the Dream."
As they started walking again, Jaune imagined himself in one of those suits, striding confidently down a nightmare street with armor humming faintly at every movement. It was childish, maybe, but he couldn't help it. This was the kind of thing he'd only ever seen in movies, and now it was real.
The armory was close to the hangar—close enough that he could still hear the faint clang of tools and the low hum of vehicles being worked on. The double doors to the armory slid open at Vex's command, revealing a space that smelled faintly of oil and clean metal. Racks of weapons lined the walls: rifles with curved magazines, pistols with strange crystalline cores, and melee weapons of every shape from axes to spears, each with faintly glowing lines running along the blades or hafts.
At the far end, a stocky man with close-cropped hair was hunched over a workbench, running a scanner over what looked like a segmented gauntlet. He looked up as they approached.
"Vex. What can I do you for?"
"Florrick, this is Jaune Arc," Vex replied. "He's an awakened who is now cleared for basic field operations. He needs a standard frame and something to swing."
The man—Florrick—set the gauntlet aside and stood, giving Jaune a once-over that was just shy of a squint. Perhaps he was confused at his age. He didn't question it, however. "Alright, kid. Over here."
He pulled a scanning large device down from the wall—it was a tall, open arch that had a faintly glowing rune etched in it. "Stand in the middle. Arms slightly out."
Jaune obeyed, feeling the faint tingle of the scanner pass over him. A second later, Florrick's workstation lit up with a wireframe model of Jaune's body, rotating slowly.
"Alright," Florrick muttered. "We've got a fit. You'll be getting a Type-3 light frame with a flexible weave underlay. Good starter set."
From a nearby locker, Florrick retrieved a sleek, segmented armor suit. It came in several pieces: a black underlayer of mesh-like fabric, flexible but strong, and segmented armor plates for the chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. Thin, glowing lines segmented lights traced along the seams, their glow shifting faintly as Jaune took the pieces.
"Go ahead," Florrick said, gesturing to a curtained-off corner to give him privacy. "Suit up."
Jaune half-expected the process to be awkward and slow, but it wasn't. The underlayer fit snugly but comfortably, like a second skin, and the armor segments locked into place with smooth magnetic seals. There were no cumbersome straps or buckles—each piece simply clicked into place with a faint hum, hidden lines flaring briefly as they synchronized.
When he stepped back out, Vex gave an approving nod. "Not bad. Doesn't look like you're about to fall over, so that's a start."
Florrick walked around him, making a few quick adjustments. "Frame sync is good. You'll get used to the weight—there's barely any. The creation process ensures that the special material redistributes the force of impacts, so it'll feel like you're wearing something half this heavy. Keep it well maintained in the field, and it'll protect you from all sorts of hazards in the Dream."
Jaune flexed his arm experimentally, surprised at how natural it felt. "Feels… good, actually."
"That's the idea," Vex nodded before gesturing to the weapon racks, Florrick standing next to her. "Now, you said earlier that you used a sword in the dream?"
Jaune hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I've trained with one, and it's what I'm most comfortable with."
Florrick then led him to a section where dozens of blades were mounted on angled stands. Some had broad, gleaming edges, others were long and slender. A katana rested in a black lacquered scabbard with what appeared to be rune marks etched along its length; nearby, a massive greatsword leaned on its stand, its monomolecular edge so fine it seemed to vanish when viewed straight on.
"These aren't simple steel," Florrick explained, picking up the katana to demonstrate. "Each blade's forged using rune technology. They are also edge-treated with a monomolecular lattice, which means that they are extremely durable and sharp. You could cleave through something tougher than steel without dulling the edge."
Jaune's fingers twitched with the urge to pick them all up. He tried the katana first—light, balanced, and deadly. Then the greatsword—brutal in size, but surprisingly easy to lift thanks to the weapon's design. He liked them both for different reasons, but something about them didn't quite feel like his.
Finally, Florrick gestured toward a blade in the next rack. "How about this?"
Jaune's breath caught slightly. The sword looked very similar to Crocea Mors—the weapon that his dad had made—only thinner and sleeker. The crossguard was slightly extended, the fuller down the blade was lined with faint silver lines. Even the scabbard was reinforced, with locking clasps and a magnetic seal near the throat.
He picked it up, and the familiarity was immediate. The balance was perfect, the weight ideal, and the grip felt like it had been molded for his hand.
"This…" Jaune said quietly, giving it a slow practice swing. "This feels right."
Florrick smiled faintly. "Better weapon, better balance and better edge. It should keep its form in the Dream no matter what. Think of it as your sword's—what was it's name? Anyway, think of it as its big brother."
Jaune sheathed it with a satisfying click. "I'll take it."
Vex stepped forward, arms crossed. "Then you're officially kitted. Frame, blade, and the bare minimum you'll need to survive in the long run. Next comes training."
Jaune grinned despite himself, feeling the hum of the armor against his skin and the comfortable weight of the sword at his side.
"Thanks." He started. "I'm ready. I think."
The thought of testing himself in a simulated fight against Grimm, even without his boosted stats, had stirred something in him—a mix of curiosity and nervous energy. He was eager to find out just how much of his new strength had been muscle memory, and how much of it had been pure stat-boost. Still, when he asked, Vex only gave him a flat look and a faintly amused scoff.
"Training against Grimm is important," she said, tapping at something on her holo-tablet. "But you? You're woefully inadequate for someone of your age group in LUCID. First, we work on the basics. And basics start with this."
She rotated the tablet so he could see, the projection blooming above it in clean blue-white light. A list scrolled down like a military to-do sheet—tasks for the day. The very first item read in neat, blocky letters:
– Firearms Introduction & Accuracy Assessment– Safety Procedures– Calibrated Handling Drills
Jaune's brow rose. "Shooting practice? Like… with a real gun?"
Vex's lips twitched at his tone. "Yes, Arc. Welcome to the twenty-first century. You're going to learn how to shoot before you get anywhere near a Grimm simulation."
"I've never handled a gun before," Jaune admitted. He almost hesitated before adding, "Do I get one of those rifles I've seen the operatives carrying?"
"They're standard issue, yes," Vex said, tucking the tablet away in what appeared to be a pocket but probably wasn't. "And you will use one eventually. But first, we start simple." She glanced sideways at him with a small, knowing grin. "Don't worry, you'll look plenty cool holding it."
That earned a quiet, embarrassed cough from Jaune.
They entered the shooting range a minute later. The wide chamber was lined with individual booths, each separated by transparent barrier walls that shimmered faintly with an odd projected barrier field. The far end of the range seemed to stretch farther than was physically possible, targets floating and moving in ways no normal shooting gallery could replicate—zig-zagging drones, shifting holographic silhouettes, and even small floating orbs that darted in and out of the light.
The air carried a faint tang of ozone and lubricants, mixed with the sharp synthetic scent of freshly cleaned firearms. Other operatives were in the area too, but they seemed busy with their own shooting practice.
Standing by one of the equipment racks was a stocky man with dark hair cropped close to his head, his stance relaxed but purposeful. He looked up as they entered.
"Bellion," Vex greeted with a nod. "This is Arc. He's new. I'm dumping him on you for basic firearms and safety orientation. You can go as far as you want with him today."
Bellion's gaze swept over Jaune, not judgmental, but clearly taking his measure. "Got it."
"Good," Vex said. "I'll leave him in your care. I have other matters to attend to." She looked back to Jaune. "When you're done here, Bellion will send you to your next instructor. Oh, and Bellion. He doesn't have Aura yet."
The man seemed a little surprised at that, looking over Jaune once again but he didn't comment on it, simply nodding to show he understood.
Jaune blinked. "I'm… being passed around a lot."
"Welcome to LUCID," she said, smirking. "We keep busy." With that, she turned and strode off, leaving Jaune in Bellion's hands.
Bellion gestured toward the nearest rack of firearms. "Ever fire a gun before?"
"No," Jaune said. "Not even once."
"Then we're starting from square one." Bellion reached for a sleek, matte-black pistol that looked more advanced than anything Jaune had seen in a movie. "First, safety. These—" he tapped the weapon's grip "—are live, ballistic-firing weapons. They're configured for training ammo right now, which won't punch through the barriers, but it will still hurt like hell if you're careless."
Jaune nodded quickly. "Got it."
"Second," Bellion continued, "in LUCID, most firearms are rune-integrated. For operatives with Aura, that means they can generate and fire hard-light projectiles directly powered by their own energy. In the Dream, they're the standard. But as you don't have any Aura yet, we'll be sticking to standard bullets."
"Right," Jaune said. "Are you also a... dream operative. An awakened combatant?"
"No. I'm not an awakened like you or Vex."
"I...see. So… Florrick from the armory—he's not an operative either, is he?"
Bellion shook his head. "Nope. Lot of the people you've seen around aren't combat operatives. Some of us are trainers, engineers, logistics, research. We keep the place running so the people who fight can focus on fighting."
That explained more than Jaune expected. "Makes sense," he said.
"Good. Now let's get to it." Bellion handed him the pistol. It was lighter than Jaune expected, and the grip seemed to mold itself subtly to his hand. "Pick your stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Keep your arms steady but don't lock your elbows."
Jaune copied the posture as best he could, the weapon held awkwardly in front of him.
Bellion hit a control panel, and a target hologram shimmered into being twenty meters downrange. "We'll start with stationary targets. Focus on sight alignment and trigger control. Breathe evenly."
Jaune nodded, sighted down the barrel, and squeezed the trigger. The shot rang out, with more recoil than he expected, and the target flashed with a pale-blue marker where the bullet struck—well off-center.
"Not bad for a first shot," Bellion said. "Let's see ten more."
Jaune fired again, and again, each time adjusting for the recoil, feeling the weapon's kick and weight. Slowly, his shots began to cluster closer to the target's center, though more than a few still strayed wide, not hitting the target at all.
Bellion moved to stand beside him, occasionally correcting his grip or nudging his elbows. "Decent. Keep your wrists firm. Think of it as guiding the recoil, not resisting it. The weapon's balanced for follow-up shots—use that."
Jaune took the advice to heart. Within the next few minutes, his aim tightened considerably. The barrier screens flickered with each impact, tallying his accuracy.
"Alright," Bellion said after a while, "let's step it up."
The stationary target winked out, replaced by a smaller, moving orb that zipped side to side. Jaune tracked it, fired, missed, fired again—hit. The orb flashed red and zipped faster.
"This is actually kind of fun," Jaune admitted between shots.
Bellion chuckled. "Good. Because you'll be doing it a lot."
They went on for nearly two hours, switching between pistols, carbines, and even a sleek long-range rifle. Jaune's shoulder ached by the time they were done, but he was surprised by how quickly he'd adapted.
When Bellion finally called a halt, Jaune lowered his weapon and exhaled. "So… how'd I do?"
"For a first-timer? Average," Bellion said. "But you'll get better in time. Don't worry. Hitting a moving drone is one thing. Hitting a monster that's trying to kill you? Whole different world."
Jaune nodded soberly. He'd find that out soon enough.