I'm almost halfway done with this book. If I get to the twentieth chapter soon enough, I might be able to binge write this book in no time...
____________________________________

        No one had said a word as they traveled, running now that they were behind schedule. The cut was still evident on (y/n)'s face but no one had cared to take it into consideration. Raven and Chung made things so tense that the sun had a hard time getting to them. The group was dividen between two sides of a story that shouldn't have even been their business in the first place.

        Everyone had remained silent ever since then and it was perfectly fine with (y/n) but likely bither some of the others. They were very close to the Caluso tribal village now but even so, they had not discussed a tactic to get them safely through the village to find Emirate and talk to the cheif. But before one jumps to this part of the situation, how about we do a rewind to prior events so that the full story could be told...

[Earlier that day]
       
        (Y/n) sprang awake, his senses having been thrown into panic as he barely avoided a potential burn. Burns were hard to deal with in the hot desert heat and (y/n) didn't have Zhu around to heal such a burn. He ended up in a defensive position, eyes aglow and nails sharpened just enough to break skin if he decided to attack anything or anyone. "Hey! Watch where you're aiming! You nearly fried me!" (y/n) snapped at Elesis who was looking rather angry.

        She had been the one to attack him. Actually...she as well as Rena and Raven were looking upset. And then there was Ain who seemed confused. Chung stayed silent and averted everyone's gaze as if he knew something he shouldn't know. And then there was Ara who seemed like she wanted to stop what was happening but hadn't been given the opportunity to speak her mind. "You've got to be kidding me," (y/n) muttered once he had assessed the situation.

         "So you did have that fight with Eun last night while we were alseep. And you harmed Ara. She says that you made Eun swear not to tell anything that was discussed," Elesis said with a flame ignited in her hand. "So what? Eun attacked me. Do I not have the right to fight back?" (y/n) growled. It was happening again. These people were jumping to conclusions without all the evidence just as everyone else usually did.

        "Chung heard everything that happened last night and yet he refused to speak a word about it. Who exactly are you for you to need so much secrecy?" Raven said. He seemed to be trting to intimidate (y/n) with his glare but (y/n) was not afraid of a mere look. Perhaps if glares could burn hikes into people, then he might be worried. "That's none of your business, I told you that already. I'm no one special anyway," (y/n) growled.

        He still hadn't moved an inch and was ready for a fight if necessary but he did want the situation to escalate. He'd finally gotten used to being around others and had listened carefully to them as they spoke among one another just the other day. Vapor had been right to force him into going since it had built his tolerance for people but now all of that was crumbling away with every sentence spoken against him. "Chung...did you really hear everything that happened?" (y/n) asked.

        Chung flinched when he was mentioned but looked (y/n) in the eyes nevertheless. They full of uncertainty and unease. "I won't say a word about what I heard. I respect you wishes to have your information kept private," Chung said with a nod. He was immediate met with outlash from his teammates. "How could you take his side if things. For all we know, he could be a part of everything that's been going on with Sander. Vapor told us that she doesn't even know his origin story so why would you trust anything he says?" Elesis spoke.

        "You asked Vaoor about me?" (y/n) inquired, surprised that they would take such measures to know about his past. "Elsword was curious. He said you seemed sad all of the time and hid it pretty well so Vapor told him that she didn't know too much about you that could help," Ara spoke up. Everyone was surprised to hear her speaking including Ain who was still sort of lost.

        "That's not the point right now. I agree with Elesis," Rena spoke. "You guys aren't even giving him a chance. We didn't know much about Add when we first met him. He even tried kidnapping Eve and yet we still allowed him to join us without too many questions. He eventually just told us about himself in his own time," Chung muttered. "Ara is your comrade," Raven said. "And so is (y/n). He saved Ara and Ain's life back when they had to fight Trockta," Chung snapped.

        "So if Ran had saved Ara's life back in Hamel, would you have said the same?" Raven said. "That's different and you know it!" Chung seethed, standing up and glaring at Raven. "Then should I give you a more realistic example? Don't you think your father knew Rod Ross would betray hi-?" Raven sneered but Chung punched him before he even fully finished his sentence.

        Elesis and Rena hrew themselves in the middle of the fight juat as quickly, Rena holding Raven back and Elesis holding Chung back. (Y/n) didn't get what the references meant but he knew they were offensive and Raven probably deserved that punch. "Let me go!" Chung growled as he tried escaping from Elesis' hold. "This isn't the time for us to be fighting. We need to get to the Caluso village to find Emirate and head over to where the others are so we can stop Karis," (y/n) said.

        "(Y/n) is correct. I also do not condone this outbreak of a fight," Ain said. He didn't seem as lost as he was before but everyone still questioned whether or not he knew what was going on. "It really isn't that big of a deal guys. I'm fine, i was just worried when I woke up with a headache and Eun wouldn't answer my questions. Don't blame (y/n) for anything that happened," Ara said. She was clearly upset by the events that took place.

        "You all seem to have forgotten what (y/n) told us. He has no family. We shouldn't burden someone who has already experienced loss. He wants to feel welcome," Ain said with his usual smile. Heck, he would probably kill while still keeping that smile. It was obvious to (y/n) that Ain was not human and also didn't understand when he should say certain things. Bringing up (y/n)'s loneliness factor didn't help the situation.

        "Now isn't the time for that Ain. I'm thinking we should get going now though. I'm tired of sitting here in the hot sun," (y/n) said as he stood and began walking off. "Wait, we haven't gotten completely packed yet!" Ara spoke but (y/n) just shrugged. "You better hurry then," he said, continuing to walk away. (Y/n) didn't leave them behind but he didn't wait for them either.

[Present Time]

        Even through that crazy ordeal, (y/n) had been glad that his senses had remained under control the entire time. He wouldn't want to have to face the Caluso tribe with sensitive ears. "Hey, there's Vegar! He must have seen us coming," (y/n) said. He couldn't help but smirk. "You know him?" Ara asked as she caught up to him amd ran by his side. She was the only one that had the courage to speak up during their travel so far.

        (Y/n) looked at Ara, a genuine smile adorning his face. "He's one of the only three people I trust in this world," he answered. "Wait, he doesn't look too happy to see us," Chung spoke up. Hearing him speak sort of startled (y/n) so he immediately slowed to a stop. Everyone followed his example and simple watched as Vegar calmly walked toward them.

        "Why so angry? Did you tell me to go make some friends?" (y/n) joked to him but Vegar didn't respond and seemed to be looking at everyone except (y/n) with a clear hostile intent. "Hey, they're not enemies. They're allies," (y/n) said taking a few steps forward and stopping Vegar after holding up his hand to signal for the others to stay put. "Be careful," he heard Ara say. Why would he need to be careful when he wasn't the problem?

        "Dude, you're acting all weird. We need to see Karu. I don't mind if I'm the only one allowed in if you have a problem with them that much," (y/n) said as he shook Vegar by his sholders a bit. "You shouldn't have come here," Vegar said turning his glare to (y/n) who then realized that perhaps Vegar had been affected by Karis' mind control as well but by then, it was too late. He couldn't react to the blade that was driven right through his torso.

         He'd never expected to be stabbed by his best friend and could only give Vegar a look of disbelief, maybe even betrayal, as he felt himself fall limp. Vegar removed the assassin's balde just as (y/n) dropped to the ground. The blow was without a doubt fatal and (y/n)'s senses were already failing him. He heard his name being called by three different people and the sound of Rena's arrows could be heard but (y/n) didn't want them to kill Vegar.

        He and Star were all he had, the closest thing to family he'd get besides Zhu. The pain reminded him of when he was back in his original home. The blazing heat mimicked the flames and he began to panic. He tried to keep his hand pressed to his wound to try stopping some of the blood but it was no use and he slowly lost his consciousness, plunging himself into darkness.
____________________________________

Maybe I should have taken that in a different direction...or not. Until next time you outstanding readers!