Rain hadn’t realized until now, but, apparently, Jan knew sign language.

The boy was completely and utterly engaged with Karina, engrossed in a conversation that had erupted out of nothingness. If one hadn’t interacted with either of them before, they would think the two had known each other for a long time. Rain was even almost starting to believe they did. They were perfect for each other. After all, the lady who had possessed a flat expression a few moments ago now had a genial mien and was smiling wholeheartedly.

As for the rest of the children… They were flocking around Jin, Mei Mei the brightest of them all. Even Ray looked like he was enjoying himself, flaunting his biceps and all. And then there was Timothy, no longer invisible.

Rain wouldn’t lie. It somewhat made him jealous. The boy stranger had more charisma than him, it seemed. But that was down on the list of what had made him sit to the edge of the living room, away from the racket.

One was the strange way the children were all welcoming of the strangers despite their experiences. It made it seem like he was being petty just a while back. Second was the boy stranger’s offer. And third was…

Rain sighed and stood up. Then, without drawing attention to himself, he left the living room and made his way to a bedroom.

You’re going to lead the children to their death…

Those words echoed very loudly in his head as he plopped down back-first on the bed in the room, gazing up at the cobwebbed ceiling.

How long do you think you can avoid the appearance of a Glade?

Did that guy think he hadn’t thought about it? He had been getting through the past week scared out of his wits because he kept anticipating a Glade’s arrival. He’d been occupied day and night trying to find ways to avoid an outcome that would involve the children venturing into it.

But… There was nothing. He was unable to find anything—anything besides sacrificing himself.

However, that too had a fault.

If he set forth into the Glade alone, who was going to look after the children?

Sure, they now knew the path to take to the GEF. They also had grown past their age mentally. Still, they were children. No matter what, they were children. Alice would kill him if he left them to fend for themselves.

Although, it was different now. With the arrival of Jin and Karina, it had all become different.

The conversation with the boy stranger had flown in a way that gave Rain the idea the Carlisle alliance wasn’t one to shy away from clearing a Glade. And from the sort of aura the strangers radiated, it was obvious they had been in more explorations than Alice’s single one. They were stronger than the children, that was for sure, and that meant the Carlisle alliance would offer the kids far more protection than he could ever imagine.

One single thing about the Glade still bothered him though… As well as the Chimeras…

“Hey, drumstick.” Rain turned towards the door, his thoughts disrupted by an unwelcome interference. Jin was leaning on its frame with his arms folded. “What’s with you so deep in thought?”

“Drumstick, huh?” Rain scoffed as he gazed back at the ceiling, his arms sprawled languidly on the bed. “What about me looks like a drumstick?”

“Wrong question,” Jin smiled. “Why do I look like a drumstick? Is what you should have asked.”

“Haha… Very funny.”

Jin came in and sat on the edge of the bed. “So, you gonna let it out?”

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Rain snorted. “Quit acting like we’re close enough to be talking about our private thoughts.”

“Eh? I thought inviting someone into your home meant you were interested in them?”

Rain shook his head and rolled onto his side, turning away from the boy stranger. “I’m not interested in men.”

“You never know.”

“I do know.”

“Then you’re yet to have your awakening.”

“Have you had yours?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm…”

Jin paused. “And it seems I like women.”

Rain sighed, saying nothing more. That was until the silence bit into him.

“The Glades,” he began. “Why do you think none is yet to appear?”

Rain’s question was a direct one. A stranger to him would find it hard to answer such on a normal basis. But that was where Jin differed. The boy stranger had already heard about the crux of their journey from the children, so he knew enough of the situation surrounding him and the kids to give a valid answer.

“That what’s on your mind?” Jin asked. Rain gave no reply. “Well, whatever answer you have in your head is probably far fetched and wrong, so I’ll help you out.” Rain clicked his tongue. “The reason why one is yet to give you and the kids a run for your money is rather simple. There’s a two week cooldown period for each Protagonist.”

A two week cooldown period? I see… Which means one will appear soon… Rain bit his lower lip and dragged himself together.

What was the best course of action for him now? Did he really have no choice but to accept the alliance’s proposal?

“Accept it,” Jin said at that moment, as if he had read Rain’s mind. “I understand your caution, but you know that it’ll be impossible on your own. And I give you my word; the Carlisle alliance has no ulterior motive.”

Rain remained silent for a good minute. “One more question,” he resumed. “You know a bit about Chimeras, right?”

“That’s right,” Jin answered. “Fought quite a few. If you’re thinking about comparing their strengths with that of the beasts in the Glades, don’t. They are not on the same level.”

Rain scoffed. “I’m not stupid. That much is obvious.”

He had heard all about what transpired in a Glade from Alice already. The real bane of humanity wasn’t the mutated beasts on earth, they were the ones on the other sides. If the Glades managed to merge with earth, humanity was fucked. And the Plexus knew it. Sometimes he wondered if this was fun to the beings that had turned earth into their playground. Obviously, it was.

“My question is about the intelligence of the Chimeras.” He turned around to face Jin who was staring at him incredulously. “Have you ever heard any of them speak?”

The boy stranger’s expression changed. “You heard one speak?”

Rain got his answer. He rolled back onto his side. “No. I was just curious if that was a possibility.”

“I see,” Jin said as though convinced, but Rain could hear the underlying doubt in his tone.

The boy wasn’t going to push it, obviously, so it didn’t matter. What was more important now was the fact that a Chimera had spoken to him. He’d initially thought that it was a Skill all beasts of that level possessed; but since then he’d encountered two more Chimera beasts and none had uttered even a single word.

What was different about that snake… and that man who spoke in the same manner as it?

Rain sighed. He had not changed much since he’d woken up in that hospital in Edinburgh. Some answers were still unreachable for him.

“I’ve made up my mind,” he said, sitting up and staring at his palms. “I’ll join the Carlisle alliance.”

###

The morning dew was still spread out above the surroundings when they packed up and left the house. It was the best time to move from one location to another since most prowling beasts would still be resting.

They could take on any threat that arrived, undoubtedly, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Battles were unpredictable.

After his decision, Rain had been battered with questions left and right from the kids. He’d told them about his thought process and why he had come to such a decision. After all, they deserved to know. Thankfully, his answers had seemed to satisfy them, Jin and Karina being such likable people playing a role in that.

He did keep one thing from them though, an action he had made up his mind to take, and he knew that the children would chew him out for it when the time came for them to find out. But if he was to grow and be a more dependable shoulder for them to lean on, it was a hill he had to cross.

He was going to venture into a Glade.