I hate it when I don't have an author's note but what more can I do but sulk.
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        "Look's like you'll finally have the chance to catch up!" (y/n) called to Vegar who was a good distance behind. Sander was becoming visible and (y/n) had to quickly get rid of Zhu before he was seen by anyone else.

        "You better not let him catch up to you," Zhu said as he disappeared. Just before he did, (y/n) lept off of Zhu's back, tumbled forward, rolled onto the ground, and took off into a dead sprint the moment he had the chance to.

        "Try to keep up!" he called as he glanced back at a very fustrated looking Vegar. The wind (y/n) felt as he ran was a sweet relief from the sun's blazing heat. In all honesty, (y/n) was surprised at how easily he was running across the sand and wondered if it had anything to do with Zhu. Most of his energy had been saved thanks to the fox, and now he sort of felt bad for having made Vegar run after him. The only thing keeping him from stopping was his burning desire for water, a necessity he had not gotten in too long of a time.

         "Almost there. I can practically smell the water from here!" Zhu said.

        "Are you trying to make me run faster or just provoking me because either way, you're not helping," (y/n) thought as Sander got closer and closer to him. Before long, he'd spotted water just outside of the city and didn't hesitate to go right to it. He stopped at its edge waiting for Vegar to catch up.

        "He isn't even breaking a sweat! I don't even think he slowed down even in the slightest. Shouldn't you be a little worried about that?" Zhu said.

       "No. He isn't an enemy so there aren't any problems," (y/n) muttered as Vegar got even closer. He didn't wait any long especially considering that he'd found his water source so he turned his back to Vegar and didn't hesitate to take a drink from the surprisingly clear water surrounding the outskirts of Sander. (Y/n) was about to see if Vegar had made it to him yet but he suddenly had felt endangered and reacted immediately.

        Before he knew it, (y/n) had caught hold of Vegar's arm and flipped him into the water. The water was low enough to safely sit in, so Vegar was fine. Even so, (y/n) froze shocked that he'd even done such a thing. Strangely enough, Vegar was laughing at him once he caught his breath. "You never let that guard of yours down do you? I suppose it's because of that other being residing within you." Vegar was completely unaffected by the fact that he'd been flipped into water.

         "Are you crazy? What if I'd punched you instead!" (y/n) snapped, nerves now bad because of the stunt that had been pulled.

        "But you didn't so let's not worry about it. I likely would have deserved the punch anyway," Vegar said tilting his head slightly. (Y/n) huffed in annoyance at him.

        "You aren't going to help me up?" Vegar asked almost accusingly.

        "No. You'll just pull me into the water with you," (y/n) said crossing his arms and looking down at Vegar to make sure he got the message.

        "Guess not then," he sighed as he got up on his own and stepped out of the water. Purely out of instinct, (y/n) jumped just in time to avoid Vegar's second attempt to get him to fall into the water.

        "See! I knew it!" (y/n) exclaimed making sure to back away from Vegar and keep him within sight.

        "What? Can you really blame me after you cheated in that race of ours?" Vegar reasoned with a shrug.

        "I didn't cheat the second time. You asked to race Zhu, and I gave you a whole ten minute headstart! You can't get mad because you lost a race you challenged someone else to!" (y/n) said. Vegar had no words for him although (y/n) could clearly see the glint of mischief in his eyes. He obviously didn't get much free time or was probably not allowed to act so blithely around the other villagers.

         "Let's just get you situated. I'm leaving you with some people I know. Don't go causing any trouble. You'll be on your own once I leave," Vegar said before walking towards Sander. (Y/n) followed in silence and only observed the market they passed and the various people in the city. It was definitely something to get used to considering that it differed from his former home in many ways. The thought triggered a strong painful feeling of emptiness in him and he felt his regrets returning to him.

        "You shouldn't stress yourself out too much. No one's going to ask you about your past. Everyone is accepted here in Sander," Vegar said as if reading his thoughts or rather his feelings.

        "I didn't say anything," (y/n) muttered.

        "You didn't have to. I sensed your change in attitude. I have to be able to do things like that being an assasin and all," Vegar said. (Y/n) found it strange that he mentioned his line of work in such a crowd of people as if being an assassin was something entirely normal. "But you'll need to keep your abilities a secret. You'll ne exploited if anyone finds out and if you can't be exploited you'll be hunted or imprisoned. It's wrong but that's just how things are in Sander."

        "How am I supposed to keep something a secret if you openly say I have a secret to keep?!" (y/n) hissed.

        "No one is listening. They're too busy paying attention to their own business. That's what I like about this place. I don't know anyone who's worried about what someone else has going on," Vegar said looking up at the sky as he did. (Y/n) wasn't so sure about that.

        They kept walking until they stopped at a shop all of a sudden. "We're here," Vegar announced before pulling back the cloth that served as the door of the shop. (Y/n) didn't question him since he didn't know what Sander was like, but he was certainly curious. "Vapor, I've brought a visitor!" Vegar called as he entered the shop. (Y/n) looked around at the various contraptions and potions that decorated the place.

        A kid wearing glasses suddenly made her way down a set of stairs behind the counter. "Who is this visitor? I swear if I have to cover up another of your mistakes..." the girl said.

        "That's no child. She is far older than she appears. I can tell," Zhu commented.

        "I promise, you don't. But I do need a favor from you," Vegar said with a bit of uncertainty.

        "You want me to take him in don't you. He has a special ability I assume or else you wouldn't have bothered coming here. You know I can't stand the normals that can't understand me," Vapor said.

       "I...well yes. He's a good person...I think. He saved the village, took down two tigers that followed him. As far as I know, he doesn't have a history with any shady groups and he has a benevolent second presence that resides within him," Vegar explained.

        "What's your name? Full name if you have one," Vapor asked (y/n).

        "(Y/n) Zhen," he answered thinking it would be okay to tell his family name.

        "Not familiar but that's a good thing. You can stay but from now on, you work for me and you don't have a last name, got that? I'll do what I can to keep your so called abilities confidential, but I want to meet this second presence that Vegar mentioned. Deal?" Vapor said as she walked from behind the counter and held out a hand to (y/n).

        "Deal. Sounds fair to me. People don't get many second chances," he said and shook Vapor's hand.

         "Thank you Vapor. I owe you," Vegar said with a nod.

        "You better repay me in full too or else you aren't getting any more favors," Vapor said as she pushed her glasses back up. (Y/n) simply stood there not wanting to be rude by wandering off.

        "You can head upstairs. I'll clear you out a spot after I finish talking," Vapor said obviously trying to get him out of whatever conversation she was about to start with Vegar. Despite his rekindled curiosity, (y/n) headed upstairs as he was asked.

        "Don't worry. I've got this," Zhu reassured. Suddenly (y/n)'s senses were sharpened and he could hear the conversation taking place downstairs. "...yes, Karu thinks he has a purpose. Maybe it was destiny that brought him here but according to Karu, he has to be kept alive no matter what. Please do whatever you can to help him," Vehar was saying.

        "So in other words, he's a trouble magnet and you want me to repel the trouble. Do you know what you've just gotten us into?" Vapor said.

        "Whatever it is, I don't think it entirely has to deal with him. I need to be heading back now. Karu awaits my return and doesn't want me to be associated with him so we don't bring him any unneeded problems," Vegar said. (Y/n) stopped listening after that. Instead he peeked around the small hallway that led to three other rooms. There was what seemed to be a storage room and he automatically assumed he'd be staying in it so he walked inside. A window caught his attention and he wandered over to it but was suddenly stopped in his tracks.

        "Something tells me that if you look out of that window right now, someone who doesn't have your best interests in mind is going to see you and make it their personal mission to ruin your life," Zhu said.

        "That's awfully specific," (y/n) muttered sitting his bag down on the fllor and looking around. It was a bit cluttered but certainly better than outside. A second chance at life, his new start.
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I have a feeling this book is going to ne longer than my usual thirty something chapters. Then again, it all depends on how things turn out. Until next time you remarkable readers!