Not really much I can say here. I've got another chapter though...
______________________________________

        "I am Ykuei, hier to the banished member of the elven council. My father died protecting me, and my mother was killed when we were caught by bounty hunters. I'd known no peace in those days. The only reason I sit here alive today is because of my usefulness," he began. The table had gone quiet. Not even Rose dared to speak when Ykuei began his story.

        "I have a rare ability known to be present among crossbreed children. My mana output is high enough to replenish your team several times over. It's form is one of the purest in the world. I myself have only a fraction of control over it," Ykuei explained. That was something Rena and Lu had easily figured out earlier, so he was certainly telling the truth. "Nearly seventy years ago, I came across the village that (y/n) is from. I had escaped there after being freed from my previous captors by an ally I didn't know I had."

        Ara looked to Ykuei likely curious as to why he didn't mention her as well but said nothing of the matter. "I was saved by a demon who had left his own race to fight for humans, specifically those in Isshin village. He'd told me that he had experienced a great loss a long time ago where he had fought for the village against his own people. Both sides had suffered casualties and he lost many comrades that day. He told me that he protected the village in secret ever since he'd left it that day," Ykuei continued.

        His words were a little off topic, yet (y/n) felt all too familiar with the story. He had a flashback to when he nearly died in the Caluso village. The same memories flashed across his mind, memories that didn't belong to him. "He directed me to the Zhen family and asked them to take me in until he could find somewhere safe for me. I owe the Zhen family my life although I failed to protect the one who saved me," Ykuei spoke.

        "Are you done? Your story is boring me and you're wasting time," Rose inturpted. Ykuei and (y/n) both released their auras as they glared at the shooter who went silent at their actions. Ykuei let his aura die out, but (y/n) kept his nine tails swaying to help him with his agitation. Rose likely wouldn't say anything else now. "Go ahead. We're still listening," Rena spoke to get things back on track.

        "He and I sought to return to his original home so that he could reunite with his mother again, but we were ambushed on the way there. The family he thought he had was gone, and he was killed while buying time for my escape. He was a good friend of mine...and (y/n) has his soul's essence," Ykuei spoke. He stopped on purpose and waited for (y/n) to react. In all honesty, (y/n)'s mind hadn't really registered what Ykuei had meant, so he simply blinked a few times in confusion.

        "That shouldn't be possible," Zhu spoke up. It was the furst time the fox had actually spoken in a while. Usually he kept his words between himself and (y/n) hoping that Ara wasn't listening in. "The Zhen family did harbor you, but for (y/n) to have some one else's essence in his soul...that is impossible. I would have noticed," Zhu growled. (Y/n) was still confused. What did this dead guy's essence have to do with him?!

        "You wouldn't have known. Illipia hid it from you. You'd have killed (y/n) immediately if you'd known that he retained my friend's essence," Ykuei said to the fox who glared at him. It was a little surprising to know they knew each other. "What makes you so sure? I couldn't have exploited that essence for my own benifit," Zhu spoke. Ykuei shook his head at him.

        "The demon currently fused with (y/n)'s mother as General Zhen is none other than my friend's mother. She needed to take form here to find (y/n) and bring her own son back. I told her it was impossible. That escense is all but lost thanks to you and your stunt. The power you gave (y/n) has already taken root. He is unable to be turned into amything else other than what he already is. Illipia made sure of that," Ykuei explained.

        They weren't making sense, but the memories kept returning. The burning village, the lost comrades, and now Ykuei's familiar face now seemed to haunt (y/n)'s subconscious. His mother had been herself when he first saw her, but the second time was definately different. The one in control of his mother still saw (y/n) as her son despite what Ykuei had said. "So...you knew all along that General Zhen was after (y/n)?" Chung asked. He seemed a bit upset.

        "Yes I did, but my options were limited. I couldn't just show up and tell everything I knew," Ykuei confirmed. "Dryad was telling me with her powers of nature clairvoyance. The nature around us predicted what state it would be in. According to the goddess, the forests of Lanox will still stand once this is all over. Nothing has truly changed for the worse as far as an assured victory there. I have no details about potential lives to be lost other than what Dryad tells me."

        "So we can still win this," Aisha said with a sigh of relief. "That's good to know," Ara agreed. Ykuei shook his head at them. "Not exactly. The fact still remains that Dryad can only garuntee the future of the nature in amd aroumd Lanox. She can't garuntee our lives or whether or not we'll stop Scar. Illipia is the one who knows that information although she cannot predict death," Ykuei said.

        "Something doesn't add up though. When we were in Sander, Vapor said that (y/n)'s mother pretty much wanted him dead. Now she wants to protect you? It doesn't make sense," Aisha spoke. "It would seem that she had a change of mind before now. Otherwise, wouldn't she have killed (y/n) when you were at the Tenple of Fire," Eve concluded. Ykuei nodded in agreement.

        "Before I met her, General Zhen believed that she could revive her old son ny having (y/n) die. For some reason, she changed her mind. She only told me that something happened in Sander. I was never given any details although it seems that she now wants to keep (y/n) as her nee son. She shares memories with (y/n)'s actual mother, but their goals conflict each other. General Zhen is technically two people," Ykuei informed.

        This information was quite shocking, yet it made sense. General Zhen had acted very differently those two times (y/n) had met her in the Temple of Fire. "Can she be saved?" he found himself asking. Despite the crazy things he suddenly found himself linked to, all he cared about was the answer to that question. Ykuei didn't give him an answer. "Ykuei. I need to know. Can my mother be saved?" (y/n) spoke.

        He hadn't meant to seem threatening, but his aura was still present, so it was inevitable that his approach would be taken that way. Ykuei didn't seem to mind the slight agression. "I can't give you a definite answer, but your mother is still there. I'd say there may ne a possible way to save her, and I intend to help you find a way. It's the least I can do to repay you amd your family," Ykuei said. It was only then that Rose finally decided to speak.

        "As if I'd let you. You can't stay here any longer. You're already decreasing their win chances. If Scar gets his hands on you, Lanox is finished and you'll die along with everyone in this city," Rose growled. "And you won't be able to go home. Right?" Ykuei said the moment Rose went silent. The blonde was surprised that he'd said those words. The statement seemed to hit her like one of her own bullets.

        "Yeah. I know you still need my mana more than anything. I'll make sure I don't die. Right now, these people and (y/n) need my help. I want to tell you more, but there really isn't much time. This day is almost over with, and Scar waits for no one," Ykuei continued. From there, everyone kept asking Ykueu questions about Scar and his plans, but (y/n) wasn't paying attention.

        He'd suddenly felt that something wasn't right. Ykuei was definately leaving something out, something that not even Rose knew. "Ykuei. Why are you in contact with Dryad? I'm connected to Illipia because of my mother, but you never mentioned how or why Dryad chose to speak to you directly," he said. Everyone went silent, but no answers were given. It wasn't that Ykuei refused. Thet were just merely interupted by a sickening, almost frightening, sound.

        Crack! The very floor that they were above began to split. No one took the time to question what was happening, nor did anyone hesitate to take some sort of action. Thanks to their team's recent drama, they were the only ones in the Inn aside from the innkeeper. The poor woman had put up with their problems from the begining.

        (Y/n) immediately thought to save her only after making sure that Ara was leaving the building. He could heal, she could not. Even if Illipia was on their side, (y/n) didn't want anyone dying or getting hurt just because they could be healed. Before he could get too far, he was caught by one of his tails by Add. "Not happening. You'll get yourself killed," he said as he pulled (y/n) towards the door. "She'll die!" he protested as several more cracks appeared throughout the building.

        "She's safe. Ykuei went for her," Elsword spoke. (Y/n) didn't know when this had taken place, but he didn't see Ykuei. He trusted his comrades and left the building along with them. He could see the ground outside shaking and bursting open in places around the inn. Nearby buildings remained relatively unaffected but the ground still shook.

        "Everyone get back!" Ciel shouted to any innocent bystanders. Aisha was teleporting anyone too close to take action while Ain crrated temporary blockades with his spears of energy. The team effort was admirable, but there was on person among the chaos that caught his eye. Not just him, but Elsword as well. "No way. Is that...?" the red head muttered in utter disbelief.

        The red hair was slightly different. The evil air around her could be felt from such a distaance. Her sword was stained with fresh blood, and even her clothing had been changed. "Did you miss me, brother?" Elesis inquired as she focused her gaze on her sibling. As luck would have it, the team was already equipped thanks to the stunt Rose had pulled, but (y/n) knew almost better than anyone that the El Search Party wasn't emotionally equipped to fight their own friend.
______________________________________

I think I should mention that everyone in the Elgang had their default job paths other than Rose. That's an important thing that I probably should have mentioned earlier. Until next time you amazing readers!