14: Jackal’s Problem with Me

I know I’m in a lot of trouble for failing the mission objectives. We were supposed to capture the Marked Ones. But having released all the Marked Ones to return to New Haven, I would have to answer to my superior for our incompetence.

Jackal sits at his desk as he looks through the piles of paperwork. Then he stares at me with a puzzled look. “I’ve read your report about the whole mission. Technically, this mission should be considered a failure. Two of our squads got destroyed by the enemies. I lost my right-hand man, Maleek. You said he could have been killed by the undead. But we searched the entire mansion for his body. We found Driesen’s but we couldn’t find his. Isn’t that strange?”

Jackal continues to read through the report. “And you said that the Marked Ones managed to escape through the portal back to New Haven before your squad could find them in time. You didn’t capture the Marked Ones. That means you failed your mission.”

I say, “The lady Masked Assassin, Kiera… we had her. That should count towards the mission objective even though we couldn’t capture the Marked Ones.”

Jackal shakes his head. “Kiera was captured after my reinforcements arrived at the mansion to aid you. That alone disqualifies your squad from earning any performance credits.”

What? I wish I could punch Jackal for attempting to sabotage my squad at every chance he can find.

Jackal says, “A squad that fails their mission will be removed from my division’s active roster and be sent for performance evaluation. For most, this spells the end of their career. However, when I submitted this report up to Lord Wrazen, he saw something else in your report instead.

“You successfully killed a Wraith. I don’t even know what that creature was. But to Lord Wrazen, he was so unusually impressed. He said no Swordmaster has ever successfully killed one before and you’re the first. In most missions to the Outside World, the Swordmasters typically avoid confronting this creature of terror because nobody knows how to defeat one. In fact, nobody even wants to talk about encountering one, because they can’t remember how it looks like. Lord Wrazen wanted me to offer you a recognition for your deeds. But something just doesn’t sit right with me.”

I know what Jackal is trying to do. He’s going to find loopholes that can discredit me.

Jackal says, “You didn’t explain in your report about the exact method you used to kill a Wraith. Nobody from your squad witnessed your act. Off the records here, Gideon, how did you actually kill a Wraith? No offense, I’m not trying to doubt your ability. But I’m curious to know how you pulled it off yourself.”

If Jackal wants to play this game with me, I can do the same with him. “Just use our sword, Commander. It’s not hard to kill a Wraith, all you need to do is just get near enough to it and kill it with our sword.”

Jackal says, “You said a Wraith can kill you with its touch. Were you not afraid of that?”

I say, “It will attack your mind and trigger your fear senses. You need to be resilient and fight it back with your willpower. Once you can overcome that initial fear, you can easily kill the Wraith.”

Jackal doesn’t seem convinced. “If it’s so easy as you said, then why did Maleek and his squad got destroyed by the Wraith? Couldn’t Maleek have easily overcome the Wraith’s attack with his willpower?”

I had help from Kiera. But of course I will not disclose that part. “I can’t speak on his behalf. Perhaps Maleek got overconfident. Apparently, he was not prepared to face a Wraith.”

Jackal laughs in a sinister tone. “I’m going to tell you what I think. You are secretly working with New Haven. Something in my heart tells me that. I sniffed out Itoshi’s secret when I exposed his collaboration with New Haven. I know one when I see one.”

This is intense, to have your superior accuse you of a crime worthy of a death sentence. “I might have been under Itoshi’s squad before. But that doesn’t mean I buy into the stupidity of his cause. Where is your proof, Commander?”

Jackal says, “Only someone from New Haven knows how to defeat a Wraith. They helped you out.”

I say, “In the report, I mentioned that I found a tome that stated the exact method to defeat a Wraith.”

Jackal says, “I’m aware of that. I don’t have time to personally read through that tome so I asked someone else to do the reading. It’s written by the Paladins before they were driven out from this City. It says, only Paladins can use their Light magic to block a Wraith’s mind attack. But you’re no Paladin.”

I say, “But the tome also said great courage can overcome the fear inflicted by the Wraith’s mind attack. I merely followed the Paladin’s suggestion. Really, it’s not that difficult. You should give it a try.”

“Fine.” Jackal nods quietly and then continues flipping through the pages of the report, hunting for more faults he could pin me down with. “I have another issue with you. With ample time given to capture the Marked Ones, you still let them escape right under your watch.”

I say, “Didn’t you read the report? The undead trapped us in the armory. I found a way out by climbing through the attics, discovered the Paladin’s Strategy Room with the tome, and went on to defeat the Wraith. By the time the Wraith was defeated, the Marked Ones had already escaped.”

Jackal slams the report papers on his desk. “You and I haven’t settled our score yet. When I asked you to discipline your squad member, you blatantly disobeyed my command. Such action usually requires me to suspend you according to our military law. But Lord Wrazen forbade me from doing so, he wanted us to honor you for being the first Swordmaster to slay the Wraith. He said your amazing achievement would serve as an inspiring success story for the other Swordmasters.”

Guess who has the last laugh. I say, “Looks like our city lord knows how to appreciate talents.”

Jackal says, “You’re fortunate enough to earn Lord Wrazen’s attention this round. Celebrate your temporary popularity while you still can. But I assure you, your luck will eventually run dry one day when I discover you’re indeed secretly working with New Haven.”

I say, “You forgot to highlight an important truth. We successfully captured Kiera. If I’m truly working with New Haven, now why would they allow us to capture her?”

Jackal says, “Kiera is a fake, she was masquerading as a Masked Assassin, intending to throw the Swordmasters off. She is useless to us. She will never divulge the information regarding New Haven’s mode of operations and the secret location of their base. Since she is not going to provide any more information, we’ve arranged for her to be made a public example. We’re going to execute her.”

My heart sinks when I hear that. Kiera has helped me greatly in killing the Wraith. In return, I granted safe passage to her refugees. Can I bear to sit and not do anything about Kiera’s execution? I know Jackal is studying each and every of my response. But I try my best not to show my true expression.

Jackal says, “I know you’re up to something. I can’t put my fingers to it yet. All I need is one slip-up from you, and then you’ll be finished. One day, I will catch you, and you would have no one else to rescue you.”

This is getting out of my hands. Why is Jackal constantly attacking me even after I’ve done a good job in his eyes? It seems like nothing can ever please him.

I say, “I have a question for you. Why do you hate me so much?”

Jackal says, “Why wouldn’t I? You’re always causing trouble wherever you go. Those who follow your leadership usually don’t have a happy ending.”

I say, “Jackal, there’s something you need to know about the Wraith. I know you hate me because you think I was the one who caused your brother’s death. But the very thing that killed your brother was a Wraith. I remember clearly now.”

Jackal says, “I no longer cared if it was a Wraith or something else that killed him. That doesn’t change the fact that my brother is no longer around because he followed your lead.”

I say, “It took me a while to forgive myself. Why are you not willing to let this go? It has been twelve years.”

Jackal says, “You know what I hate about you. You’re very persuasive and charismatic. If you asked somebody to participate in a suicide mission in the name of good deeds, people would still follow you even if it would lead to their death.”

I say, “I was trying to stand up to the enemies. Your brother was killed by the undead. Why do you blame me instead of our true enemy, Hezekiah? He was the one who started the war.”

Jackal says, “I don’t blame you. I just feel sad for those who still follow you today. Your desire to play hero often leads them to their doom.”

I say, “Xing was my best friend, as much as he was your beloved younger brother. It was not my intention that he was killed by the undead when three of us returned to the school to rescue the trapped students.”

Jackal says, “When we succeeded in clearing the first school, I thought that our heroic actions had done enough good. It was time to evacuate our former city, so I asked you to abandon further rescue missions. But you refused to listen to me. You wanted to break into more schools and rescue more trapped students. Your desire to be the hero had blinded you to the dangers surrounding us.”

I say, “I’m not trying to be a hero. I just believe in doing the right things.”

Jackal says, “Those group of trapped students whom you rescued—do you even know where they are now? Are they still alive today? If they are, will they come and thank you for rescuing them? They probably didn’t care about the second chance you’d given them.”

I say, “That’s not true. You don’t know that. If one of them is still alive today, he or she would be grateful for the second chance we’d bought them.”

Jackal says, “What about a second chance for Xing?”

I say, “Xing died, believing that he did the right things. He agreed to rescue the trapped students when everybody else wouldn’t. You should honor your brother’s legacy by acknowledging his heroic action, rather than trying to make his death looked pointless.”

Jackal says, “I honor my brother’s legacy by making sure a foolish man like you don’t lead others to their doom in your heroic pursuits. Perhaps, it’s both fortunate and unfortunate that you’re appointed as a squad leader in my division. Know one thing, as long I’m in control of the authority in our division, I will not allow you to infect your other colleagues with such foolishness.”

I remember the dream I frequently had. A time where Jackal and I join hands together to fight Hezekiah. Perhaps that dream shall just remain a dream. “In another lifetime where Xing didn’t die, I had imagined that three of us—you, Xing and I would have continued the heroic fight against Hezekiah. Eventually, we would breach the enemy’s capital and succeed in defeating the enemy. But unfortunately, we will never see that day come to pass.”

Jackal says, “Even if that day were to arrive, I imagine that it shouldn’t be you leading that fight. Now get out of my office.”

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