"Gosh, I hope Erin, Seungmin and Jeongin are safe," Chan muttered, stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth. "They are our only hope now."

"They just need to get that prince as far away from the Royal Army as they can at this point," Hyunjin mentioned. "My biggest concern is he'll return to the Palace and tell them all he has learnt about us for the past month. I don't have much faith in him."

"Doubt it. He's learnt enough to know we aren't the bad guys," Chan explained.

"The King is very persuasive. If Minho shows any sign of rebellion, he would most likely sit him down and brainwash him like he has done all his life... Do you have any more bread? I'm still famished."

Chan broke off a piece from his loaf and passed it to the younger boy, "here, eat lots. We need you to have enough energy to fight tomorrow."

After the sun set behind the horizon, the battle between the Royal Army and the Guardians halted. The soldiers of the Royal Army retreated to the forest while the Busan soldiers returned to their town, putting out all the fires the battle had left behind. The only building without any damage was the Guardian Building which had five-metre-tall walls enclosing it and a stong, metal gate. Because of this, the Busan Army took shelter in it as they waited for the Royal Army's return.

Hyunjin glanced back at Chan, raising an eyebrow.

"What about you?" he asked. "If I take this, you'll starve. Besides, you need energy more than me."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Chan pretended to be offended. "I might be older than you, but I assure you, young man, I still have the energy of a puppy."

"First of all, lies. Secondly, I meant I'm a stronger fighter than you. I can fight one man for days on end, you exhaust yourself quickly."

"Do not!" He protested but the frown on his face proved Hyunjin was right.

Chatter filled the Guarding Building as soldiers recalled their day and best fights as they chewed on bread and chugged down their water. Hyunjin watched the smiles and scorns, the looks of victory and defeat and found himself subconsciously sighing.

"What's wrong?" Chan raised an eyebrow.

"Remember when this was us?" he beckoned to a group of young soldiers who happened to be the loudest of them all as they joked around and shared their laughter. "All those years back even before the battle at the Palace. Remember that?"

"As if I could forget," a fond smile filled Chan's face. "The best night of my life..."

"It's been so long since I last heard anyone say that... And it's a shame too that the events of the day afterwards completely overshadowed that night."

"I won't shy away from it. That night was an amazing night and nothing will ever make me say otherwise... Do you... Ever wish you could go back to those times? You know, before the battle of the Palace? When the Guardians were still... complete?"

"Every day," Hyunjin admitted. "I've never known happiness as I did during those times. We all truly were a family."

"Man, I miss Jackson more than anything. I miss his crazy brain and all the training games he'd invent. And I miss Yugyeom with all the stupid schemes he'd get himself into and all the pranks he played. I miss BamBam and his 'Weekly Tips For Attracting A Girl' which never really worked but he still swore by."

"And Nayeon and her odd obsession with dad jokes. Also Dahyun and her... Well, everything she did."

"I miss them all," Chan sighed. "Ever wondered what some are doing today? And whether they ever consider joining the Guardians again."

"Probably not. I love Nathaniel to bits. He's the only reason I'm still part of the Guardians but things just aren't the way they used to be anymore. The Guardians will never be the same without Jackson... Speaking of Nathan, how's he doing?"

Chan shrugged, "he's alright. Pretty bummed out by the number of casualties but physically he's fine."

"Who would have thought everything would come crumbling down within a day, huh?" Hyunjin sipped his water. "I hope we'll all be alright, especially Nathan. Not only for me or the Guardians... Erin needs him. More than any of us do."

Chan smirked, "I knew it."

"Knew what?" Hyunjin questioned, raising an eyebrow at the other boy.

"I knew you liked (note: I mean like as in 'like' not love or anything just like) Erin. Here you were constantly messing with her and pretending you hated her when you actually do have a soft spot for her."

"I'm just... concerned, you know? Because I sure as hell don't want to be the one to break the crippling news to her if Nathan actually does... well... you know, kick the bucket."