Xylos' Battalion Book One: The Champion

Before The Tournament Druella P.O.V

"Y-you called...?" I asked Xylos, walking into a hidden room within Khabib's estate, closing the door behind me. I wasn't going to lie, I was a little nervous. A while ago, he called Kelub for a private chat, and when I passed him on the way to the room Xylos wanted to meet me in, I saw a devastated look on his face. I turned away quickly. Kelub was one of the strongest in the group mentally. What had happened between him and Xylos to get him to that state?

"Yes... I did." Xylos was facing away from me, facing a covered window, his body completely in the shade. his arms held behind his back, his tail moving around aimlessly. Something was definitely on his mind. "Is the door closed and locked?"

"I... Uh..." I turned around to lock the door but paused. "Why should the door be locked...?"

He slowly turned around and started walking towards me. Due to the lighting, I couldn't really tell that Xylos was shirtless until he was close to me. I stepped back, bumping into the door in the process. I didn't know why, but this entire interaction made me nervous, and his expression was serious. He reached towards me and I closed my eyes, afraid of what? I have no idea. I then heard  a clicking sound and opened my eyes. Xylos was turning away walking back to the curtained off window and said, "So no one walks in on us..." He then turned towards me again and shot a Ki blast. I exclaimed in surprised and dropped to the ground. "Is he trying to kill me!?"  I turned to the door where the Ki blast struck and saw that it was forming a second layer around the entire room, giving it a clear slight reflective surface that alternated between blue, red, and green. "Sorry if that gave you a scare. I just had to make sure that no one could hear..."

"Xylos, what's going on?" I ask, standing up.

"I've been thinking about the incident..."

"Incident? What incident-" I paused upon realizing what he was talking about. "Oh..."

"Yeah..." He turned back around again and pulled the curtain aside, causing light to flood in. "I... I'm not sure if I can give you an answer at this time... I... I'm uncertain."

"Why the hesitation...?" I asked cautiously. "Is it because-"

"No." He said quickly, turning back towards me, and I noticed his left leg twitching almost completely unnoticeable. "I'm worried. I'm scared."

"Scared? You?"

"It's new to me. And... Well I have no idea how it would affect everyone else... How it would effect relations within the group... I... I don't want to ruin the dynamic..."

"Xylos... You are the leader, and are more powerful than pretty much everyone here. It's not really up to them. They aren't really in the position to object. Besides, it's none of their business anyway."

"Still... I respect them..."

"Xylos, if you don't want to-"

"That's the thing, I do!" I fell silent. "I'm just scared. I've never been in this position before. Never! I don't know what the right choice is and I can't ask anyone for advice!"

"What about your brother? Isn't he your right hand?"

"You really want him knowing about this before I make a decision?"

"I... Oh... No you're right... Now that you mention it... I don't think Neskur would be too happy about it..."

"Even if this was something I could bring to him, he's pretty upset with me right now."

"Why?" I asked, remembering the state of Kelub when I saw him earlier. 

"It's personal..." He said. "Similar to this. I'm just not sure how the group would react-"