""...""
The boy—the White Jackal, if the rumors were true—remained utterly still. Not a twitch, not a sound. It was almost eerie how perfect his stillness was. If I hadn't seen him move earlier with my own eyes, I would've sworn he was a statue—or some kind of mannequin left behind by mistake.
"Huuu~ haaa~"
My chest rose and fell rapidly, but I forced myself to steady it.
"Phew~"
I exhaled slowly, pressing down the surge of adrenaline as I tried to calm the chaos in my head. My thoughts needed to be clear, rational, panic wouldn't help me here.
(Okay, breathe, think this through rationally)
I thought forcing the gears in my head to turn fast.
(Judging by his calm demeanor and blatant lack of secrecy, he didn't sneak in here—he is standing right out in the open. That likely meant he was allowed to be here. Which narrowed things down considerably. So...he's either another Jaeger or someone in our orbit, a freelancer? An ally? Maybe just passing through?)
But even as I tried to convince myself, a sense of unease gnawed at the back of my mind.
(Still, there's no concrete proof that he's the White Jackal. Could just be some copycat—some edgy merc trying to ride the coattails of the legend. They exist. A dime a dozen)
And yet...
(No...no, something about him feels too sharp. Too real. That posture—so natural, so reflexively defensive. He's not trying to act dangerous, he is dangerous and definitely experienced)
Everything about him, from his stance to his aura, radiated the quiet discipline of a seasoned killer.
(So if it is him...what's he doing here? Is he on a job? Is it related to us? This station was supposed to be restricted today—reserved exclusively for Corvus' use. That means his presence isn't coincidence)
Questions buzzed in my head like a swarm of hornets, and I didn't have nearly enough answers. The only thing I could be sure of was that I needed to tell someone.
"Nevertheless...I think I should report this to the boss"
I muttered the words under my breath, a whisper meant only for me.
"..."
Even then, I hesitated.
Because part of me didn't want to take my eyes off him.
Not out of curiosity—out of caution. Out of instinct. There was something inherently wrong about him. Not in any overt way—he hadn't done anything, hadn't even moved and I sensed no outright malice from him, but the air around him felt...unnatural. Like standing too close to a cliff's edge in the dark.
Ominous...
That was the word, the thing I was feeling right now.
I began backing away slowly, step by careful step, never breaking sight—even though his gaze had already drifted elsewhere.
Just in case.
I didn't turn my back until I was sure the distance was safe, and even then, I kept looking over my shoulder every few seconds on my way back to the others.
(Ok...no one's tailing me...)
No footsteps followed me.
No shadow loomed behind.
But the chill down my spine lingered long after the boy was out of sight.
"Boss...I need to get to the boss"
I muttered under my breath, urgency clawing at the back of my throat. My legs moved faster than I could think, instincts kicking in while my heart pounded like war drums in my chest.
*THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!* *THUMP!*
My pulse throbbed in my ears, drowning out all other external stimuli, but I could still make out the voices of my family in the distance through the haze of tension clouding my mind.
"Ooof—man, this stuff's heavy!"
"Where does this one go again?!"
Crates scraped against metal, gears squealed, and boots clanged against the train's loading ramp.
The scent of steel, oil, and sweat filled the air like a battlefield after the smoke had cleared. Then—
"Hey, hey! Be careful with that!"
The familiar voice rang out like a welcome bell, warm and boisterous even in the midst of the hectic scene.
"It costs more than your salary! Think of it like a tasty lamb chop—you wouldn't drop that, would ya?"
I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. That voice—
"Hahahahaha!"
And the chorus of laughter that accompanied it filled me with a sense of security.
(Oh...boss...phew~ I'm back)
Relief washed over me like a warm tide. I rounded the last stack of cargo crates and found them—my family. The mercs of Corvus, clad in coats, scarves, mismatched armor, and signature feathers pinned to their lapels, were bustling like a colony of seasoned ants. All of them were hard at work, unloading the train we rode in on, passing off marked crates and double-checking manifests with practiced efficiency.
Edward Iger—my father—was right in the thick of it. His coat flared as he barked orders and shared jokes with the crew, completely in his element as he directed the movement of our precious cargo. He grinned like a proud war dog watching over his pack.
Despite everything, despite the eerie tension still clinging to me like cold mist, I couldn't help but smile a little.
(I made it back okay...)
But the tremor in my hands hadn't stopped.
I hadn't just run back here for comfort—I knew that.
There was someone out there on that platform. Someone dangerous. Someone quiet, too quiet, like the stillness before a storm.
Watching...
I needed to tell the boss, now.
He hadn't shown any signs of hostility, sure—but with people like him, that could change in an instant.
"Haa~...haa~..."
My breathing was uneven, scattered like leaves in the wind. I hadn't even run that far, and yet my lungs felt tight. The oppressive dread I'd felt from that boy—the Jackal—it was still clinging to me. Fainter now that I was surrounded by the others, but not gone. Not even close.
"Aaah—!"
In my shaken state, I didn't see the uneven tile ahead. My foot caught, and the world tilted.
But just before I could crash to the floor—
"Whoa there!"
A firm grip caught me by the arm, steadying me with practiced ease.
"Fi? You alright? You look like you just ran a marathon backwards"
I blinked up into a familiar face, met with the reflection of my own panic in a pair of dark black shades.
"L-Leon...?"
Relief and urgency mixed in my voice as I recognized him.
"I need to talk to the boss!"
I said, already pulling at his sleeve.
"Okay, okay—relax!"
Leon said, helping me back to my feet with one hand still steady on my shoulder.
"The old man ain't exactly in a hurry to disappear, at least tell me what's goin' on first?"
Leon tried to get me to calm down.
"Right...yeah"
I sucked in a breath, grounding myself. Then I spoke, clear and deliberate.
"Earlier…I saw someone"
I looked him square in the face.
"Someone you described to me not long ago—the one with a preference for creepy masks and dark clothes..."
Leon's easygoing expression faltered. He went still.
"You know who I'm talking about, right?"
There was a flicker in his face—disbelief, recognition, and a growing seriousness all washing over his features in an instant.
"Wait...you mean—?"
"I think the White Jackal is here"
I said, my voice low, tense.
"Right here, on this platform, with us, right now"
"..."
Silence.
Leon didn't speak for a long beat. His jaw clenched just slightly. Even with the shades, I could tell he was scanning every memory and instinct in his head, weighing my words like a soldier checking his weapon before a fight.
"No...there's just no way—"
He muttered.
Then—
"Hey! What's with the hushed tones, huh?"
The boss's familiar voice cut in, cheerful as ever.
"Were you two rascals scheming something fun without ol' me?"
We both straightened like kids caught red-handed.
The boss walked up to us, his voice still had that same mix of mirth and iron. A light-hearted tone that somehow carried the weight of a war drum.
He approached, coat billowing behind him like a cloak, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
"Well?"
His gaze flicked between us, sharp despite the smile.
"Someone wanna tell me what's going on?"
"..."
Leon glanced at me, then gave a subtle nod.
"Umm"
He could tell—this wasn't something we could afford to keep to ourselves.
So I opened my mouth and began to speak.
"I saw someone… someone standing alone on one of the side platforms. He wasn't doing anything—just standing there—but something about him felt off, WAY off"
I began laying out what I'd seen, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh? Someone ominous enough to rattle lil' Fi? Now that's interesting. Go on—describe him to me"
The boss tilted his head slightly, his usual smirk fading just a little, his tone sharpening beneath the humor.
"Mid-height. Maybe a bit taller than me. White hair—white like powdered snow. He wore this long, all-black cloak that looked like it was stitched from smoke. The fabric moved with the breeze, but… the way he stood was so still. Not calm—more like a beast that hadn't decided whether to sleep or pounce. I guess "on guard" is the best way to put it"
"..."
Leon glanced at me, his brow twitching beneath his shades. But I wasn't done.
"And his face…was covered. A full mask. Silver and white with black streaks—ornate, like something you'd see at a masquerade. Beautiful, even. But something about it felt…wrong"
"Wrong how?"
The boss asked, his voice now low and deliberate.
"Uhm, well..."
I hesitated, swallowing as that chill ran up my spine again.
"His eyes were crimson, cold and focused. He looked at me—not just glanced—watched me. Just for a second, no emotion, no strong reaction just an acknoledgement. Like I was a flicker of static in his peripheral vision…and not worth the effort"
I recounted what I saw there glancing at me for just a moment, just one glance was enough to send shivers down my spine.
"Red eyes…mask…white hair…an off putting presence..."
The boss's voice dropped an octave as a shadow crossed his features.
"I didn't think it was real either when Leon told me about him. Figured the stories were blown out of proportion. But I saw him. I know I did. I think it was him—the White Jackal"
I nodded, even though I had never met the Jackal myself. I didn't need to. There was a deep, instinctive certainty rooted in my gut, something that no logic could shake.
"He's not here to…?"
Leon went still, jaw tight. He muttered something I didn't catch.
"You're certain?"
The boss asked quietly, folding his arms across his chest. His gaze wandered toward the station walls.
"I'm not guessing. I don't usually feel things like this, but that guy—he didn't move like a normal merc. There was something about him…I couldn't take my eyes off him, and I wanted to trust me I did. But everything in me was screaming to not to take my eyes off him if I wanted to stay alive"
The boss exhaled slowly through his nose, the sound heavy.
"He didn't approach you?"
"No, he didn't move at all. He just…stood there"
I said.
"So he was just loitering? Not trying to blend in? This platform was supposed to be ours for today, boss"
Leon finally spoke again, voice laced with unease.
"It was"
The boss confirmed grimly.
"Which means if he wasn't hiding…then either he belongs here, or he thinks he does"
"..."
"..."
We fell into silence. A thick, uncomfortable pause.
Then the boss spoke again, voice like drawn steel.
"Leon. Sweep the platform, pull station access logs. I'm gonna take a look at what Fi saw with my own eyes"
"On it"
Leon replied immediately.
"But…if it is him—and not just Fi's nerves acting up—what then?"
He added.
"Last time we crossed paths with the Jackal, it didn't end in a handshake"
"...!"
I tensed at that. I hadn't been there for that run-in, but I'd heard the stories.
"Nothing reckless"
The boss said.
"Though that depends on the opponent…"
He paused, then muttered, more to himself than to us.
"Lots of folks still haven't recovered from the scars left by the War of Vindication. All we can do is hope…he's not holding a grudge"
He turned back to me with a sigh, and that familiar warm smile.
"You did good, Fi. Trusted your instincts. Let your old man handle the rest, alright?"
He reached out and patted my head gently.
"Okay…"
I nodded slowly. But even with the reassurance, I couldn't shake the feeling—that those red eyes were still watching me. Somewhere beyond the platform, still waiting.
"But I'm coming with you, I don't trust you enough to leave you alone with that one"
I said firmly.
"Hmm..."
The boss glanced over his shoulder at me, his expression unreadable for a beat—then he broke into a rough chuckle.
"Worryin' about your ol' man now? Haha—since when did lil' Fi grow up so much?"
He reached out and ruffled my hair with the kind of affection only he could make feel simultaneously warm and irritating. This time, the pat was more aggressive than before, like he was trying to plant his palm into my thoughts.
"Hey—! Quit it, I can't see!"
I squirmed and swatted at his arm, trying to wrestle my bangs out of my face as he laughed at my expense.
"Alright, alright"
He said, grinning as he turned away.
"You can tag along, but keep your distance, aight? Don't crowd me"
"Fine"
I muttered, hastily smoothing out my hair before trailing after him at a safe pace.
"I'm not a kid anymore, you know"
I added disgruntledly under my breath, low enough that I knew he heard it—but chose not to respond.
We walked in silence for a time, the soft echo of our boots against the platform tiles the only sound between us. The deeper we went, the more the noise of the rest of the station faded into a kind of charged stillness, like the air itself was holding its breath.
When we finally reached the edge of the platform where I had seen him, I found myself hesitating for just a second before stepping forward.
"He's still there…"
I stopped in my tracks.
There, standing exactly where I remembered—same posture, same direction—was the boy in black.
"He hasn't moved..."
I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. My voice came out quieter than I expected, almost reverent, like I was standing in a shrine.
Some part of me had assumed he would be gone. That he would have vanished the moment I turned my back. That my nerves had painted him larger than life. After all, people like that—dangerous people—they usually don't linger.
But no. He remained.
Just like before, he stood still as a shadow etched in glass, untouched by the bustle of the world around him. The cloak that clung to his body fluttered slightly in the wind, like smoke unfurling from a slow-burning wick. His mask gleamed faintly in the station light, silver and white, flawless and unreadable. And those eyes…
Even from this distance, I could see them. Crimson. Patient. Waiting.
He hadn't moved an inch.
And somehow, that terrified me more than if he had.
""...?""
The boy finally turned, noticing us as we approached—this time with more than just the passing glance he had given me earlier. His gaze sharpened, settling on us with a clarity that sent a ripple of tension through the air.
""...""
For a moment, he simply studied us, unreadable behind that haunting mask.
Then his eyes found the boss.
A dim, cold glint of recognition flickered within those crimson depths—subtle, but unmistakable. As if some long-buried memory had been stirred awake.
""You are...""
His voice came low and even, smooth like glass yet hollow of anything resembling warmth.
He tilted his head slightly, offering a slow, deliberate bow—not out of respect, but more like a gesture made out of habit or detached formality.
""Long time no see...Lord of Crows""
The title left his mouth with the most apathetic tone I had ever heard—devoid of malice, devoid of reverence, as though he were commenting on the weather.
It wasn't a greeting between old friends, nor even old enemies. It was simply a statement, cold, mechanical like a dead language spoken between two living ghosts.
"Ugh..."
A shiver crawled up my spine as I stood frozen, watching the silent confrontation unfold, my nerves strung taut like the trembling strings of a lute under a harsh hand.
"Heh...never thought I'd see you again in my lifetime, Jackal"
the boss said, a grin flashing across his face—though noticeably, the usual warmth was missing from his voice.
"Forgive my bluntness, but I'll get straight to the point, since I know you're not one for pleasantries"
(He's jumpy...)
I noticed the subtle, almost imperceptible way the boss's hand inched closer to the weapon strapped across his back.
""...""
The Jackal noticed it too, there was a barely visible shift in his stance, so slight it would have gone unnoticed by an untrained eye—but to me, it was clear: he was ready to move at a moment's notice.
"Why are you here?"
The boss cut straight to the question gnawing at all of us.
""That's a rather plain question...this station is reserved solely for Jaeger work today. Why else would I be here if not to work?""
The Jackal's voice was calm, steady, as if the answer were as obvious as breathing.
"Work?"
The boss arched an eyebrow, almost amused by the sheer audacity of the casual answer.
"I don't know if you've noticed, but...we're the ones using this station today"
He said it lightly, but his tone was probing, gauging the Jackal's reaction.
""...""
The Jackal paused, then replied:
""And? With all due respect, you don't own this place...and if you're concerned, I have the papers authorizing my use of this station right here""
He reached into his cloak.
"!!!"
"!!!"
The boss immediately gripped the handle of his glaive, his entire body tensing. I, too, instinctively reached for my weapons.
""Rather skittish, aren't we?""
The Jackal, unfazed, casually pulled out a parchment tied with an official Calavera seal and extended it toward the boss.
"...Apologies"
the boss said, his voice trying to remain disarming even as his eyes never left the Jackal's movements.
"But I don't take chances"
""Understandable, given our last encounter""
The Jackal stepped back slightly, giving the boss space to take the parchment.
"Oh right...how could I forget? The scar you gave me that day is one of my finest"
The boss smiled grimly, an undertone of dark memory lacing his words.
""If it makes you feel better...""
the Jackal said with a slow blink.
""I only managed that feat because you were off-guard...you weren't even my target at the time""
He added, almost as an afterthought.
""...And only because I was using [Moment of Truth]...""
He muttered something under his breath—too soft for either me or the boss to catch.
"Hmm...how comforting"
The boss unrolled the parchment and scanned it quickly, brows furrowing slightly as he read.
"Interesting, looks like you're telling the truth. According to this... you'll be joining us on our return trip"
He rolled the parchment back up and tossed it back to the Jackal, who caught it without so much as glancing at it.
(Seriously?!)
My heart lurched. Someone actually thought putting him and us in the same place was a good idea?
"But here's the thing, boy..."
The boss's voice grew sharper, darker as he spoke, his hand still resting lightly on his weapon.
"You being allowed here is one thing. But what if I don't want you here?"
"*Gulp*"
I swallowed hard, feeling dread slither down my throat like cold lead.
(Hey boss! Are you serious?! We're gonna start a fight now?!)
Inside my head, panic blared louder than sirens as the questions I dared not voice were hammering my skull.
""...""
The Jackal locked eyes with the boss, unblinking, his presence oppressive and heavy.
""That would be...unfortunate...""
There was no threat in his voice—only an eerie, mechanical acceptance.
Then, colder still, he added:
""In that case, I would not oppose settling the matter...the Jaeger way. We are due for a rematch anyhow...""
His tone shifted subtly, and in his crimson eyes, a dreadful glint shimmered, sharpening his otherwise blank stare.
""However...can you guarantee that no one else would be caught in the crossfire of our dispute?""
His gaze flickered to me for just a fraction of a second before returning to the boss.
"!!!!"
The weight of that glance crashed into me like a wave of ice, the sheer suffocating pressure of it freezing me to the core.
"..."
"..."
""...""
The silence that followed was unbearable, thick enough to choke on.
Until—
"Pfft! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The boss's sudden booming laughter shattered the oppressive air like a hammer striking glass.
"Boss?!"
I yelped, utterly thrown off by the abrupt shift.
"Sorry, sorry!"
the boss said, wiping a tear from his eye as he released his weapon.
"I just wanted to make sure you weren't playing any games. Seems you were being honest after all"
He said still chuckling slightly under his words.
""I have no reason to lie""
The Jackal responded with perfect composure, his previous killing aura evaporating so completely it was as if it had never existed.
"Phew~"
I let out a long, shaky breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"Ahem~ fine then. If you're not here for revenge or anything stupid like that, I'll welcome you"
The boss turned, starting to walk away, then paused and threw a glance over his shoulder:
"Provided you don't interfere with us..."
""I have no intention to meddle. If you do not antagonize me, I shall afford you the same courtesy""
The Jackal said, turning back to his place of waiting, as silent and immovable as before.
"That's all I ask"
The boss nodded, walking back toward me.
"Wait—boss, are you serious?! We're gonna ride the next train with him?!"
I hissed in a low whisper, tugging at his sleeve.
"Relax, Fi"
the boss said calmly, bending down slightly so only I could hear him,
"I saw it when I sized him up. He's not here to pick a fight—unless we make it one. And besides..."
His tone grew heavier.
"You really think we could drive him off if he didn't want to leave? I could beat him, sure—but not without putting you and the others at risk"
"..."
I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.
"Fine...you have a point"
I said remembering the feeling of cold dread I felt earlier when he momentarily directed his killing intent towards me.
"But still...I don't have a good feeling about this one..."
I cast one last look over my shoulder at the waiting figure—the White Jackal—before following the boss back to our group.
Something deep inside told me this upcoming train ride was going to be VERY tumultuous.