Chapter 9

**A few minutes earlier**

Zee walked over to Larkin, who appeared visibly stressed, tapping his foot and biting down on a fingernail. Concerned, she asked, "What's wrong, Larkin?" He sighed quickly before turning to Zee, expressing, "I'm sure Xain told ya that he wants to help these people, right?" Zee blinked and nodded, unsure of where the conversation was headed. "Yes, he did. Is something wrong?" she asked, puzzled about the connection between Xain's intentions and Larkin's distress.

"You gotta tell him to leave," Larkin urged, causing Zee's confusion to deepen. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Don't start actin' like him, Zee. You gotta tell Xain not to risk his life trying to help these people!" Larkin exclaimed, prompting Zee to take a step back. "Do you want me to tell him to abandon these people?" she asked, still struggling to grasp Larkin's perspective. "Don't say it like that, Zee. These people aren't his responsibility! He doesn't even know 'em!" Larkin insisted, frustration evident in his tone. "But...but Xain won't, you know how he is. He won't leave someone in need of help, let alone a village full of people," Zee responded, her voice cracking with uncertainty.

I know that's why you should tell him to," Larkin insisted, urgency in his voice. Zee, trying to piece together the situation, asked, "Is this what you two talked about before?" Larkin nodded, a sense of frustration evident in his demeanor. "Yes, but he won't listen to me. I'm sure he will when you tell him to," Larkin asserted. Zee looked at him with confusion, questioning, "Why would he listen to me?" Larkin shook his head, clearly exasperated. "You know why, Zee! It's obvious how you both feel about each other!" he exclaimed, causing Zee to blush. Despite that, she maintained her stance. "Why should I? We handled the situation in Triton, so we can here, right?" she argued.

Larkin, grabbing her by the shoulders, expressed his frustration. "Zee, we had help. We couldn't have won without it. The mayor of the goddess-damned town helped us, and even then, we struggled. But this time, we don't have that luxury. These are hardened mercs we're facing. We can't beat them, Zee!" he exclaimed. Zee, looking down at the ground, stammered, "But still, shouldn't we try? These people would all die if we don't—" Her words were abruptly cut off by Larkin's piercing question, "Zee, do you want Xain to die again?"

Zee looked at Larkin, shock etched across her face. "Wha-what are you...?" she stammered breathlessly as Larkin released her shoulders. "You know damn well what I'm talking about, Zee," he asserted. Larkin was aware that he was manipulating Zee's emotions about Xain, but he felt compelled to do so. "I... I..." Zee faltered, struggling to find the words, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Larkin sighed again. "I know you've been trying to block that out, but I'm sure you didn't forget that. Hell, I had nightmares about that last night. And that could happen...no, that will happen again if we stay here, and we don't even know if that was a one-time thing," Larkin reasoned. Zee stood still, absorbing his words, her focus fixed on the ground. "Zee, if Xain dies, we'd be to blame. He came on this journey to protect us," Larkin added, aware that this was the most compelling argument he could present. It was the truth that he knew would resonate with Zee.

Once again, Zee looked at Larkin's face, almost teary-eyed. What he said struck a chord. She didn't want Xain to die again. Despite her efforts to suppress the memories, the image of Xain's crushed body was still vivid in her mind — his blood gushing, bones protruding, organs spilling out. The moment she thought Xain had died, the moment she believed she had lost 'him' again, haunted her.

Memories of a man with blue hair and blue eyes flashed in Zee's mind as she continued to gaze at the ground. *He's right, why should we care about these people?* Zee thought, more memories surfacing. *We don't know these people, and after they die, we would forget them. They don't mean anything to us,* she continued musing, the recollections intensifying.

*Yes, Xain and Larkin are the only ones I know. The rest of these people don't have value to me. Xain's life is the only one that matters,* she concluded, her mind fixating on a single thought. *Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters, Xain is the only one that matters,* echoed repeatedly in her mind before she finally looked back up at Larkin.

"You're right. I will tell, and if he doesn't listen, we will force him," Zee declared to Larkin, who breathed a sigh of relief. "I agree. You go get him, I'll check on the strider," he said, acknowledging the gravity of the situation they were about to face.

They both understood that this decision was for the best, and so they returned to the villagers and Xain. No more words were exchanged between Zee and Larkin; they both knew what had to be done. Upon returning to the villagers, however, they noticed a slight distress among them, and Xain and Grace were nowhere to be seen. Zee rushed up to Collin, leaving Larkin trailing behind, and in a state of panic, she urgently asked, "Where's Xain?"

Collin and the villagers attempted to calm her. "Don't worry, he's at the church talking to our priest," Collin explained. Larkin, catching up, interjected, "Why the hell is he doing that?" Collin and the villagers exchanged glances, and Collin responded matter-of-factly, "To talk to him? He said he was curious, so I told him where the priest is, and he went over there."

"Where's the priest?" Zee asked urgently. Collin looked at her with confusion. "The church, where else would he be?" he responded. Without saying anything else, Zee rushed off towards the church. "Hey, wait, our priest is... ah, not again!" Collin sighed, as Zee disappeared from view.

Zee knew that the situation wasn't urgent, but she understood that the more time Xain spent with these people, the less willing he might be to leave. Feeling a sense of urgency, she hurried towards the church. However, as she arrived, she saw Grace standing in front of the doors, staring at them, seemingly unaware of Zee's presence—at least, that was what Zee thought. "What did you two talk about?" Grace asked as she turned to face Zee, squinting at her face.

*I can't waste time on her,* Zee thought to herself, deciding to be vague. "We discussed plans that I need to share with Xain," she lied. Grace shook her head, letting out a sigh. "I thought you were nice when you talked to me," she said, confusing Zee. Grace continued in a slightly harsher tone, "Anyway, stop lying and tell me what you were actually talking about."

Grace's tone grew harsher, causing Zee to take a step back in shock. "Wha-what are you saying? I'm telling the truth," she insisted, though in her mind, she wondered, *How was she able to tell?* Grace rolled her eyes. "You suck at lying, you know that?" she remarked, prompting a glare from Zee. "Whatever, what we discussed isn't your business," Zee retorted, firm in her stance. Grace glared back, retorting, "Isn't my business...? Bitch, I live here; of course, it's my business!" she said with a hushed tone, challenging Zee.

"Watch your language; kids your age shouldn't be talking like that!" Zee scolded, her tone firm and maternal. Grace, however, scoffed in response. "Maybe I'll consider it once you're straight with me about what you were talking about," she retorted.

Zee felt her frustration mounting. *What should I do? I can't force her out of the way, but I need to tell Xain to leave, though.* Deep in thought, Zee pondered her next move. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Grace clench her fists by her sides, her piercing gray eyes fixed on Zee's green ones.

"So, that's how it is. Let's see what he thinks of you after I tell him," Grace said cryptically, leaving Zee both confused and concerned. Before Zee could seek clarification, Grace turned on her heels, swinging the church doors open. As Zee saw...