By dawn, the group from Busan were already on their way west and tracking further away from the burning town. Erin kept her bow and arrows close at hand as she led the group, scanning the empty terrain for any signs that the Royal Army had known of their escape. Beside her was Jeongin while Minho, Daniel and three other Busan soldiers -- Minhyun, Woojin and Youngmin -- following closely behind.

Seungmin and the Army officials stood behind the crowd, making sure no one fell behind as well as ensuring no one was following them. Masan was a four-day walk away but Erin had little faith that they would arrive within that time.

"I left it in Busan," Jeongin muttered, eyes trained on the ground.

"Left what?" Erin barely gave him any attention.

"The little wooden carving of an elephant Chan gave me for my birthday."

She snickered, "what good would a wooden elephant do us?"

"Not that it would help... it just meant a lot to me, you know? He told me that he thought of me as a little elephant, cute when young but will grow up to become something great."

"Well, way to make my gift inferior," she scoffed making him raise an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Your gift was already inferior. Even Hyunjin's plate of dinner leftovers was better than your death-hug."

"What made it a death-hug? I put a lot of love and thought into that hug for your information."

"Well, clearly too much love. I couldn't breathe! It was way too tight."

"Oh like your grip on my hand and arm during the wedding ceremony?"

"At least I had a valid reason."

"Is my love for you not a valid enough reason for you? Because if so, I don't need this kind of toxicity in my life."

Jeongin scoffed at the statement before returning his gaze to the terrain to help Erin out with searching out the area.

"Do you think," he asked, pausing for a second to gulp. "They'll make it out alive? Do you think Busan will be there when we return?"

"It is a far fetched belief but I'm really putting all my hope into it. I can't be the Leader of the Guardians. I'm not qualified enough."

"You'll be fine," Jeongin assured her. "Besides, if you can't, there's always Seungmin."

"Seungmin would rather kill himself than become Leader of the Guardians, trust me."

"Then I could be."

She derided, "forget it, little one. You haven't even given us a reason to give you a spot."

"Now I have. I spotted the Royal Army, I helped you gather everyone before departing, I am literally being the only persona actually trying to help you here and I'm still not qualified? What more should I do? Slaughter the King myself?"

"I mean, if you can, please do. But seriously, Jeongin, I'm still not convinced that you have what it takes. Sure you've helped me out a good bunch but as a Guardian, you have to be ready for war all the time and be able to kill anyone without hesitation. And I'm not quite sure you have that."

"Why do you doubt it?"

"You have no experience ever killing anyone nor do you have any spite against the Royal Army or bandits to attack without feeling bad."

"And you do?" He paused. "Oh, right, I'm sorry. But if it helps, I just lost my hometown too."

"My hometown isn't the only thing I have lost, Jeongin. And a hometown isn't enough to truly abhor the Royal Army. You still have your parents and siblings. Not to mention the fact you just love everything. I'm just worried if we do allow you to go to war, you are going to stutter and be killed instead."

He sighed, "yeah, that's my worry too. Hating everything comes so easy for you. It's unfair."

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "thanks? Was that a compliment? If so, why am I offended?"

"I mean it. Honestly. As bad as it sounds. I wish I could hate the Royal Army too but I can't help thinking what if it's not their fault."

"Not their fault? They-"

"Before you start lecturing me about all the reasons I should hate them, I just want to remind you that Minho was deceived. Who is to say they aren't as well? Well, at least, not all of them. But some."

"They've been in enough fights to know otherwise."

"But Pohang was their first actual attack in ten years. Many of the men that took part in the fall of Masan were killed at the Palace battle and most of the soldiers of the Royal Army currently probably don't know what actually happened. So who's to say they aren't being deceived?"

She squinted her eyes at him, "what's your proposal? Befriending them and getting them to realise what actually happened?"

"Maybe not befriending them but if we lure them to Masan we could get them to see the damage that was done, you know? And we could have Minho see as well. It could work."

"Slim chance," she scoffed. "How about we get to Masan and then figure things out while we are there? We could get the others' input and discuss details if we actually go through with that, alright?"