Shackles cuffed her wrists as Youngjae led her towards the town centre she knew all too well. She kept her eyes up, trying her best not to have to gave at the skeletons scattered across the town. Memories flooded her head at seeing the town again but she needed to hold on to her sanity. Everything was testing her, fate itself was testing her. It was pulling her to her limits, poking at her boundaries as it questioned just how much longer she would be able to hold on. Just how much longer will she be able to hold onto her fearless act?

"We can win," she muttered. "We have the resources to win this time around. No one has to die. Just let me go."

He scoffed, "you sound so sure for someone who doesn't know anything. You are looking at the Royal Army from the outside. You are looking at their mud huts and blunt swords, their worn out armour and exhausted face and you believe that is what the Royal Army is. Boy, are you wrong. The King will not stop attacking until he gets his son back and destroys the Guardians. He wants to end your reign, to embarrass you to the graves. And he'll do whatever he can to do that."

"Unless I see him leave his Palace and fight, I don't believe any of it. He's a coward!"

"I see things differently now. I've seen what happens inside the Royal Army, I've seen the people we are against. If you wish to have a chance at winning, you'll need a lot more than you have."

With that, he forced her into a kneel in front of man wearing the same red armour as everyone else. However, the way it clung to his body, the aura he held did the armour the justice it always needed and revealing a man who looked nothing short of evil.

"Erin Park, right?" the man shot her a toothy grin, displaying his rotting, yellow teeth with some gaps here and there where he had lost a few. "Nathaniel Park's sister and Aaron Park's daughter. What a pleasure to meet you."

"Who are you?" she spat, earning an elbow in her side from Minhyun who simply mouthed 'be nice' afterwards.

The man roared with laughter, "I like to go by the name Suga but you could call me Yoongi."

"Yoongi?" she raised an eyebrow. "Weird. I thought I knew every section leader of the Royal Army but apparently not. I have never heard of a Yoongi."

"I like to keep my name out of the spotlight. It makes it easier to have people underestimate you. Besides, I won't quite say I am part of the Royal Army. Which is what makes you an important character here."

She smirked, mildly impressed by the man's words, "a rebel, huh?"

"You see, I don't like working for people. Especially not power-hungry kings. I like power but only when it is gained and I belive this is the same principle the Guardians live by. I worked closely with the King for half a decade, I know his way of thinking as well as his strengths and weaknesses. You want to kill the King? We are your missing piece. Without us, the King will never die. So hand over the prince and let us complete this task for you."

She derided, making the man's smile falter, "I don't think so. You may be our missing piece but we are also yours. You want the prince to return him and get money out of it. You aren't going to kill the King."

"What draws you to that conclusion?"

"You work for the King. You are even wearing the Royal Army armour. Give me one reason to trust you."

"Look around, Erin. Look carefully at the faces of all the soldiers here. They were all Guardians once. We all want the same thing here. We all want to feel free in our own country again and if handing the prince back to the King is the only way, I will take the chance. Fortunately for you, the King is too proud for that. Killing him is the only way." 

"I'm never going to hand the prince over to you."

Yoongi sighed, "then I have no reason to keep you alive." He snapped his fingers and immediately she felt the cold tip of a sword ghost over her neck. "It's a shame really because I actually like you."

"Stop!" Minhyun yelled when he saw Youngjae pull the sword back, preparing to swing. 

"And who are you?" Yoongi spared him a glance. 

"I'm a soldier," he responded. 

"Name?"

"Hwang Minhyun."

"Hwang... what an Eastern name. Anyway, tell me, Minhyun, why should I listen to you if you are only a measly soldier?"

"We could make a deal with you?"

"A deal?" Yoongi and Erin repeated in unison although Yoongi seemed more on the amused side while Erin glared at him, adding, "I ain't making a deal with these betrayers!"

"Hang on, Erin," Suga cooed. "I'm intrigued. What is your proposal?"

"We work together," Minhyun ignored Erin's glare and Daniel's pleads for him to stop talking. "That way you have access to the prince and we can get some of your knowledge on the King."

"I already said it and I will only say it once more," the leader of the rebels sighed. "I don't like working for people."

"You can lead us."

"What?" Erin shrieked. "No way am I taking orders from an ex Royal Army soldier! I'd rather die!"

"Not him alone," Minhyun clarified. "As in you and him working hand in hand. Both of you leading all of us."

The girl turned her gaze to Youngjae who still had his sword in the air, muttering, "swing it. Kill me now. Put an end to my misery. Please, kill me."

"I don't usually like alliances," Yoongi grinned. "But Erin's outrage makes the offer rather compelling."

"No, stop it," she refused. "Go back to where you said you don't like alliances. Don't agree to the offer. Don't do it. Just kill me, simple."

"I accept the offer," he announced, making Erin slump and attempt to pry the sword from Youngjae to end her misery herself but he instantly held it out of her reach. She groaned, feeling Yoongi ruffle her hair and laugh, "looks like you have no other choice."