C҉R҉O҉W҉ | ᴍᴄᴜ x ᴍᴀʟᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

XI - 𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

N O R W A Y

THE FROST LADEN WINDOWS of the Skuggahreiður barely held back the chill of the Norwegian dawn. The first light of morning crept through the narrow slits.

Y/N awoke, his breath visible in the cold air of his quarters, his mind replaying the echoes of last night's murmurs and whispers that seeped through the thick walls.

He lays there for a moment, listening to the soft sounds of the fortress coming to life. The distant clinks of metal, the muted footsteps on stone floors, the subdued voices of the Jackdaws as they began their day—all carried a heaviness that hadn't been there before.

It was as if the very atmosphere of Skuggahreiður had changed overnight.

Charged with an unspoken anticipation.

Or perhaps, apprehension.

Pulling himself from the warmth of his bedding, Y/N wrapped a thick cloak around his shoulders and stepped out into the corridor. The usual nods of respect from passing Jackdaws were accompanied today by curious glances and hurried whispers. It didn't take long for him to catch fragments of their conversations as he passed by.

"He was the one out there when the sky lit up." One voice said, barely above a whisper.

"It's no coincidence, the aurora has never been so vivid." Another replied.

As Y/N approached the main hall, he could see a small crowd had gathered, their discussion growing more animated.

"Could it really be him?" One younger Jackdaw murmured to his comrade, "After all these centuries, right when he arrives?"

"Too pat, too neat." One interjected, "Azrael has been preparing his whole life for this. How can we just toss that aside for some. . . newcomer?"

"Tell that to the meteor shower that happened. . . only when the newcomer came."

Y/N felt a tightening in his chest as he listened. The debate seemed split. Some voices carried admiration, considering him a harbinger of change.

Others dripped with skepticism, staunch in their belief that Azrael was the rightful heir.

"We deserve someone who knows what we do from our core!"

"But we deserve what is said from the prophecy!"

"Nonsense, that prophecy! Only stories in your head!"

"Then what happened last night?"

"Ever heard of natural causes?"

Y/N's jaw clenches, gritting his teeth.

"Stop!" He bellowed, but to no avail as only volumes of debate kept growing.

Stepping into the circle, Y/N raised his hands, seeking to quell the rising voices.

"I'm not here to take anyone's place!" He yelled out, meeting the eyes of those gathered, "I came to learn, to grow—not to be crowned anything!"

A hush fell over the crowd. Y/N's words seemed to resonate, or perhaps it was his earnest tone that cut through the morning's cold.

"You see how humble he is?" Whispered a Jackdaw from the back, his words carrying through the silence, "Even after what Azrael did to him, he still respects Azrael. Aaand, doesn't believe he is the Crow. His compassion is unlike any other. . . even more reason to believe he is the Crow."