"I don't know what to do, Jinnie," she sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I don't know how I should feel about Minho..."

Hyunjin rubbed her back soothingly, his gaze stuck on the chest in front of them. 

"I like him," he admitted. "I'm not sure if that helps you at all but I think you are too hard on yourself, too demanding. He's not like his father. We've taught him that and we've also taught him that the Guardians aren't his real enemies."

"Yeah but you are saying that because you see him as a friend... if I do put aside the fact he's a member of the Royal Family, I'll be seeing him in a different light."

"Does thee Erin Park finally have a crush?" he teased.

"I thought you were at the door. Didn't you hear the whole conversation."

"Not all of it... but enough to know you are under a lot of pressure."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes, "I have it under control, Hyunjin. I know what I am doing."

"Quit the act. It is written on your face. You have bags under your eyes, your skin is sickly pale and your eyes are red. You look exhausted."

"You don't look in good shape either so I'm not sure you are qualified to judge me."

"I'm not judging you," he held his hands up in surrender. "And your feisty retorts say it all: you are stressed out. You need help, Erin. Let Seungmin or I help you."

"Jeongin has been assisting me."

"And I bet he knows about what is happening between you and Minho?"

"Well... no, but I'd rather we keep it that way. And you are the only one to know so don't you dare say a thing to anyone."

"As if it isn't obvious. He's blatantly in love with you. You are the one making things complicated so snap out of it. The Busan soldiers will never respect you because they think you only joined the Guardians because you are Nathan's sister. No matter what you do, they won't like you so stop trying to please them. So what if you like Minho? So what if you have a relationship with him? That's your choice to make."

"I don't want to be seen as a betrayer."

Hyunjin sighed, "the Guardians were built to save the cultures and traditions of the East. The only way you would ever betray the Guardians is if you demolish that. To begin with, the Guardians had many enemies but we have reconciled with them and we grew from that. As long as our cultures and traditions stand, it doesn't matter who you love. Besides," he ran a hand through his hair. "Something tells me this might be our last war against the Royal Army."

She nodded, eyes drifting to the bow in her hands. She caressed the polished wood and smiled softly at it.

"Jinnie?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened to my brother?"

He paused, gaze drifting to stare at her and the frown adorning her face. He wanted to lie. He wanted to tell her that her brother was safe but he couldn't bring himself to give her false hope. Honestly, he didn't know what to think exactly but he knew no good could come out of any scenarios he could think of.

"He's not dead," he revealed. "Last I checked at least."

The frown never left her face, "last you checked?"

"Hyeonki had him. He was pulling him away from the rest of us, pulling him towards the woods. What he planned to do with him? I have no idea. But I couldn't save him. I wanted to... I wanted to so badly but I couldn't."

"Too far away?"

He shook his head, "Chan told me to ride off. To get out of there as quickly as I could and not look back but..." His face scrunched up as he quickly wiped a tear he wished Erin didn't see.

"But?" she finally let her eyes land on him.

He released a shaky breath, "but I looked back... As I was riding away, I spared the town one last look." He held his head in his hands. "Then I saw it."

"Saw what?" she inched closer to him, feeling her heart beat loudly against her chest in terror. "What did you see, Hyunjin? What happened to Chan?"

He lifted his head to reveal his flushed face and the tears slipping down his cheek. He gulped, "I spared him one last glance only to see his face contort into one of agony despite trying to look strong. I was confused at first. I almost turned back but then he mouthed 'go' and then... then I saw the man behind him and... and the blade. The red blade that pierced out of his stomach. Next I knew he was on the ground."

I only have one chapter for you guys today because I'm really busy today. I might post three times some other day or something but sorry for only one chapter today.