The Heritor of Illipia

Chapter 14

Got another chapter here. I'm not sick anymore so I can write more now...
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        Silence had followed them all the way back to the inn. The team still seemed divided with certain individuals doing their best to remain neutral. The only thing that remained constant was the growing suspicion and (y/n)'s desire to be left out of it. He wasn't a fan of conflict even though he sometimes handled it well. In times past he would have Zhu to talk with and it would help him ignore some of the things going on around him, but the fox was no longer there with him.

        He didn't want to talk to Illipia not just because his mother was suspicious of her but also because she was a goddess. He didn't really feel comfortable talking about his inner thoughts to a goddess he had only known for a short time. He had no other mental links to anyone else so he was left alone with just his thoughts, a concept he at many times wished for but never really thought about.

        "(Y/n), where are you going?" Rena asked. She was the only one who'd spoken but others were wondering the same thing. Being in the middle of the group, he didn't really have room for slip ups but he had successfully distracted his mind without even realizing it only for it to backfire. They were nearing the inn and (y/n) had kept going. He didn't get his chance to answer Rena even if he'd known what he was going to say. Instead, Ignia spoke up from where she stood just outside the inn. She stepped aside as Aisha, Ain, and Eve took Elsword inside to be treated.

        "Did you guys stop whatever was threatening Ifritan at the fire temple?" she asked as she looked at (y/n) in particular. He glared at her not because she had asked such a question but because he recognized her soul. "Your little pet is fine. He was being controlled and tried to kill us," (y/n) growled. He couldn't help the slight aggression that found it's way into his voice. He was already upset and Ignia wasn't making anything better with her sly schemes and comments.

        "We arrived at the temple just as the enemy was leaving. There wasn't time to check on Ifritan," Elesis reported, ignoring (y/n)'s words. Ignia didn't react to her words and simply stared at Elesis. "You told the others that you only sensed enemies at the temple but I don't see how you'd be able to tell the difference without being there yourself. Is it some sort of power that you have as a fire priestess? I don't remember Sasha having such ability," Chung noted. He brought up a good point but Ignia didn't seem phased by his hinted accusation.

        "There were eight enemies present in the fire temple. That's all I know. No one was authorized to be there so I assumed it was under attack. I apologize if there were any misunderstandings," Ignia said with a slight frown. She didn't really answer Chung's question but she had given a sufficient answer that appeased his growing curiousity. "We'll head back once Elsword recovers and make sure that Ifritan is alright. For now, we need to regroup and discuss what took place today in the forest and the temple. Trouble seems to be brewing here in Lanox," Elesis said before heading inside.

        Everyone else followed including Ignia and it greatly bothered (y/n), putting him on edge for he didn't trust Ignia even in the slightest. The two had acknowledged one another as enemies but (y/n) couldn't prove anything just yet and Ignia knew this and was abusing that status as if daring him to try speaking against her. It was highly annoying and (y/n) refused to be subjected to such torment.

        "We'll continue our talk later on tonight after Elsword has gotten some time to recover," Elesis announced. The team split from there going to their own individual rooms to have moments of solitude and reflection on their day so far. With only a few hours left until the sun set, (y/n) couldn't do anything but wait until things returned relatively normal. He certainly couldn't go soul hunting at a time like this and if he disappeared during the night again, Elesis and the half of the team that sided with her would get even more suspicious of them.

        "I wish I'd had just stayed in Sander," (y/n) quietly muttered to himself as he opened the door to his room. "Do you really mean that?" Ykuei asked as he stood by the door. (Y/n) internally cursed forgetting that Ykuei had never left his side. His presence had almost been entirely erased while he was invisible and (y/n) was starting to find it unsettling that even he couldn't sense the hybrid child. Ykuei still awaited his the answer to his question but never got one.

        It hadn't been very long since (y/n) had made his decision to leave with the El Search Party but they were making it very hard not to regret his decision. Ara was a main reason he decided to go with them among other reasons like his mother but he didn't entirely feel comfortable with the restraints on his freedom. If he disappeared for too long, the team would worry or suspect him of wrongdoing yet it was normal for (y/n) to go off on his own.

        What bothered him the most was the fact that the team was starting to distrust one another because of him and his problems. He'd expected something of the sort to happen but never really wanted it to. "Why don't you just go back to Sander? You could take commander Zhen with you," Ykuei spoke up. The suggestion was simple but carrying out such a whimsical idea wouldn't make things any better. Lanox was still in danger and (y/n) truly wanted to stop whatever was going on. It was in his nature, an instinctive thing he couldn't just cast aside.

        He would have answered Ykuei had he not sensed Ara heading toward his direction. She appeared in the doorway just as he sat down on the edge of his bed. "Aisha got Elsword to wake up. You can go and see him if you want. He's recovering far quicker than I expected," Ara informed. (Y/n) simply nodded, the information passing right through his current thoughts and worries. He hadn't meant to be so nonchalant about Elsword's recovery but his mind was on other things that had his priority.

        "Ara...what would you do if I went back home?" (y/n) asked. He wasn't really taking the idea seriously but the thought of returning to the desert wouldn't go away. He and Zhu had spent many good nights under the stars in the cool night desert breeze. It wasn't all the best and was lonely at times but it was what he had been used to. Ara stared at him giving away the apparent sadness that she was failing to hide.

        "That'd be your choice, right? If you were to make up your mind, I wouldn't be able to stop you...but I wouldn't want you to leave. You'd be all by yourself and that isn't good. And your mother is still here. You wanted to save her too," Ara said. She seemed to be about to cry and it made (y/n) immediately regret bringing up the topic to her. "It was just a thought. I wouldn't actually leave, I promise you that," (y/n) said to stop her from crying but he really did mean what he said.

        Ara did not cry but her sorrow remained and (y/n) could tell that she held some doubt. He stood up to walk over to Ara but she had already rushed forward and hugged him before he could get to her. Her hug was comforting to say the least and he was once again reminded of one reason he decided to stay with the El Search Party. "You really better not leave okay," Ara muttered. He couldn't help but smirk at her odd attachment to him and returned her statement with a head pat.
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I'm workin on it. On to the next chapter I go. Until next time you cool readers!