From behind a tree emerged a figure. A boy, to be precise. One who looked like he was the same age as Rain.

He was dressed in a black hoodie, had dark skin, cornrows dyed white for his hair, and a smile that pushed forth joviality in the most amiable way possible.

Rain, though, had grown to be weary of people who approached with a smile after a certain unforgettable encounter. Maybe if the boy had emerged with a frown he would have been less wary. Now, the severity of his raised guard was multiplied, despite not having received an animosity message from the Plexus.

Oblivious of Rain’s inner mood, the boy stranger dipped his hands into the pockets of his ripped jeans with a tilt of his head. “What’s with the frown, lil man?”

Rain raised a brow. Lil man? Absurd. Why were jabs being thrown at his age today?

“You haven’t answered my question,” Rain said, still cautious about the one who he was yet to see standing behind him.

“Ah,” the boy stranger tugged on the bandanna tied around his neck. “Well, it’s kinda hard for us to have a civilized conversation when your Jaguar friend is ferocious towards me, don’t you think?”

Rain scoffed. “Really? You must be barbarians then. Seeing as I have a sword aimed at my neck.”

The boy stranger smiled. “I like him, Karina.” Then he made some gestures with his hand and the sword around Rain’s neck was pulled away—slowly.

Without even taking the time to register that what the boy stranger had done was sign language, Rain turned around, dug his heels into the ground, and pushed himself away from the midst of the two strangers. Needless to say, J joined him.

“That was unnecessary, you know? We’re not here to harm you,” the boy stranger said. “And why’s the Jaguar still ferocious? We’re no longer barbarians.”

“Name’s J,” Rain corrected.

He was displeased with J being referred to as ‘the Jaguar’. It made it seem like she was just some savage animal. Some beast.

“Got it,” the boy stranger did not stress on the matter. “Now, can we talk like civilized individuals?”

Rain’s gaze shifted to the one who had snuck up on him. Karina, she had been called. Her hair was black and rough, and she had a flat expression that made her look unapproachable. Although, beneath that expression, Rain could sense some faint shyness there. But he was not certain.

She was older than him, that was for sure—perhaps in her mid-twenties—attractive too. And it was obvious that she was Asian.

“As you heard, her name’s Karina,” the boy stranger introduced the overly silent lady. Rain’s gaze remained on her as her’s remained on the leaf at her feet. It was almost like she had no sense of awareness for her surroundings. And she was yet to sheathe her sword. “While me… I’m Jin.”

Both of Rain’s eyebrows jumped up. He involuntarily turned to look at the smiling boy.

“You don’t look Asian,” he scrutinized.

“What does being Asian have to do with my name?” Jin asked.

Everything… Rain retorted. There’s no way your parents named you that. So is this some kind of fiction infatuation thing? Don’t tell me I’ve come across another psycho?

“Nothing.” Rain did not press on it. Jin was still smiling, but he could never know what was going to piss the boy off. It was better safe than sorry.

“Your Jaguar’s still snarling,” Jin announced.

“She’ll stop once she no longer deems you a threat.”

Jin jerked his head backward before cocking it sideways. “That wasn’t the deal though.”

Rain felt like he had made him angry. However, he was not planning on backing down. He wasn’t relaxing easy until he’d had their intentions all figured out—if ever.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“It’s only right we’re cautious,” Rain said. “You were stalking us.”

Jin’s expression relaxed. “Oh!” He chuckled. “That’s a misconception, feisty.” Feisty?! “We only came to hunt the gibbons.”

The tension gripping Rain’s shoulders eased for a moment there. “Expatiate.”

Jin laughed. “What’s there to expatiate? Isn’t it obvious already?”

“Not one bit.” Rain raised his sword higher.

Jin leaned back into a tree, removed his hands from his pockets, and folded them. Karina, on the other hand, finally became tired of staring at the leaf at her feet and stood beside Jin.

“We’re part of an alliance in Carlisle,” Jin continued. “Our scouts found out about the gibbons, and Karina and I were the ones tasked with eliminating them. Nothing’s better than eliminating Chimeras before they raid your base. But, you see, you beat us to it. In a more casual than awe-inspiring way, by the way. Which is why we decided to watch from afar and conclude if you guys were friend or foe. A boy my age, a group of children, and a mentally mutated Jaguar. Hah! That’s one crazy combination.”

“Alliance?” Rain focused on that singular word, throwing the rest of what the amiable-looking boy had said into a dumpster. “Like a Faction?”

“Eh,” Jin shrugged. “Not exactly. We’re a lot smaller. Like a lot.”

Rain’s mind kept trying to discern signs of any possible danger he might have missed with the appearance of the stranger. It all felt oddly similar to his encounter with Nun Cathleen.

He was really trying his best to keep himself from instantly writing others off as enemies because of his experiences, but he did not have the liberty to make mistakes any longer. They proved costly.

“What’s the headcount?” Rain asked, his tone a bit too direct, but the situation called for it.

“I dunno if I should be telling you that, you know?” Jin rubbed his chin. Rain remained silent. “Eh, fuck it. We’re in the thirties.”

Rain’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a large number.”

Jin raised his shoulders. “Said the same.” Rain kept silent. Jin looked up at the sky, the sun already vanishing into the horizon. “So, what’s it gonna be, drumstick? Gonna offer us a place to crash?”

Rain cocked his head to the side. “That depends,” Jin scoffed. “Why aren’t you guys in a Faction?”

“Whatever do you mean?”

“I’m asking what your aim is for not being in a Faction and creating your own little alliance?”

He’d never come to find out what Archbishop Jude and Nun Cathleen’s goals had been for training the kids to such a degree, but never again. Also, from the boy’s answer, whether he lied or not, he would get a feel of what sort of environment that alliance possessed. In other words, he would find out a thing or two about the people before him.

Jin sighed and placed his arm on Karina’s shoulder. She was taller than him, so he’d had to stretch.

“First of all, I did not create the alliance.” He waved a finger. “Second of all, not everyone enjoys being under military rule. Some of us just want to live in peace without being told when to eat, shit, and sleep, you know?”

Rain’s expression loosened, internally.

It was not an extravagant answer, which meant that it hadn’t been tailored to deceive him or the sort.

“I’m sorry.” But that was not enough. “I can’t offer you a place to crash. There’s still a bit more time, so find your own crib.”

Rain sheathed his sword and turned around.

In the past, he would not have thought twice before offering them a spot in the shelter he and the kids had secured; now, though, he had to be certain he wouldn’t be screwed over.

He began to walk away while communicating discreetly to J to watch his back for any hostile actions.

Him not cooperating would push the strangers’ hands to either turn antagonistic, return in peace, or…

“Wait.”

Instantly, Rain grabbed Alice’s hilt.

…Reveal their true intentions.

“I have no idea of how your journey has panned out until now,” Jin said. “But from our conversation I can tell you really want to avoid putting those kids in danger.”

Rain’s grip on Alice loosened; the words making their way into his ears weren’t the ones he had been expecting.

“If you told me there was no Protagonist among your crew, I’d call you a liar. And even though yours and the children’s fighting prowess is superb, it’s quite obvious that you have yet to venture into a Glade,” Jin continued. “So, my question is: How long do you think you can avoid that?”

Rain unsheathed Alice, taking a stance that sparked Karina to take one too. J bared her fangs and growled.

“If you touch a single hair on the children’s head, I promise that I’ll kill both of you myself.”

“You’re strong, I’ll give you that,” Jin said. “But not that strong, drumstick. Also, how did you come to that conclusion? When did my question imply that I meant any harm to the children?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Rain said. “I’ll avoid it for as long as I can. That’s my answer to your question.”

Jin shook his head. “Nah. You’re going to lead the children to their death. That should have been your answer to my question.” Rain frowned. But, deep down, he knew the boy was right. “Which is why I want to offer you a different option.” Jin stretched out a hand with a smile. “Join the Carlisle alliance.”