Meeting Allura again and the Bullies

After the food finished cooking, Hendrix grabbed it and put it on a rock to cool down. While he waited, more ruffling sounded in the bushes, and seven silhouettes emerged from them.

"What do we have here? It's the broken one." One of the bullies stated with his eyebrow raised.

"Hey, don't call him that. Remember, Allura is leading us. You don't want to make her angry, right?" Another bully whispered to the first while shivering a little.

"I apologize. I'll keep my opinions to myself." The bully replied

"It's good you understand." Allura stated before she saw Hendrix and softly sighed.

When Hendrix saw them, he sighed and cut the cooked Jerboa into nine pieces. Seven were normal-sized, and two were a bit larger. After which, he motioned the group to get theirs while he brought the two largest fragments to Asher and Damascus.

"Wait, he knows how to make a fire without any technology? Just using flint and stone? This is outrageous!" One of the bullies yelled.

The other bullies begrudgingly took their pieces and began to eat their portions in silence, secretly grateful. And Allura ate hers while looking at Hendrix and sighing.

Meanwhile, Hendrix brought Asher and Damascus their portions and woke them up.

Before he left, and grabbed the sack and waited for them to finish.

"Hendrix seems completely self-reliant. We underestimated him." Asher stated while he bit a piece of meat off.

"He's not just self-reliant but mighty too, Asher. I saw him fight a group of varmints on his own. His look of being helpless is deceptive." Damascus replied in praise.

"No wonder he's a leader. He's capable of being one." Asher replied with respect.

After Asher and Damascus finished eating, Hendrix approached them.

"I'm going to treat your wounds the best I can." Hendrix replied with his eyes completely red and his gaze seemingly blank.

"Wait, you look exhausted. You shouldn't." Asher replied.

"Just quiet down and let me work. You both are seriously injured." Hendrix replied, sighing as he took off his sack and took some makeshift string and bandages before beginning to bandage up their wounds.

Allura saw Hendrix work so hard despite being deathly tired before gritting her teeth, not knowing how to help him.

Asher and Damascus obeyed and let Hendrix patch them up. And after two hours, he finished the treatment correctly, despite his tiredness.

"Both of you should sleep and recover. Remember not to take those bandages off until you heal." Hendrix instructed before he put away the remaining bandage strips, put the sack back on, and walked away using his cane.

Damascus and Asher nodded, stunned by Hendrix's expertise, and fell asleep. Meanwhile, as Hendrix walked away from the group, Allura approached him.

"Hendrix, where are you going?" Allura asked

"To dig a hole and sleep there? Why are you asking?" Hendrix civilly replied while turning his gaze to Allura.

"Sleep in a hole?! Don't do that. You can sleep in my arms. I'll keep you safe." Allura replied as she walked towards Hendrix.

"Allura remember one of the rules of me leading you all? Do not touch me for whatever reason. If you do so, my leadership ends, so please stop." Hendrix warned

"But Hendrix, you're doing so much, and I want to protect and take care of you! Please trust me. I won't hurt you! I want you to feel safe and happy, so please!" Allura pleaded while she began to cry, feeling guilty.

'Last time I trusted another human, I was built up and broken. I'll never allow another to do the same.' Hendrix thought before he spoke. "I refuse, Allura. Now, please go back to the group and let me rest. I need my solitude, believe it or not."

"But Hendrix! I want to protect and nurture you! Please let me help you. Let us all help you!" Allura begged while holding her hands together and looking down at Hendrix.

"No, now go back. I'm tired and don't need to be held by you. Just go back and relax." Hendrix instructed while shaking his head.

"I-I. ...Okay, I'll go, Hendrix." Allura replied before she softly sighed and walked away.

Hendrix continued to walk away and, once out of sight, dug another hole underneath a bush, covered himself up, and fell asleep.

An hour and a half passed, and Hendrix woke up and sighed.

{Good morning Hendrix, how are you feeling?}

'I'm feeling much better. Thank you for holding and comforting me in your realm. I needed it.' Hendrix thought

{You're welcome. However, I remember why you trust me but no one else.}

'Because of your eternally loyal status. Otherwise, I couldn't. I don't want to be built up and broken again.'

{I understand, I'll make sure to nurture you here when you sleep}

Hendrix nodded and walked back to the group, and once he arrived, he sighed.

"Everyone get up. It's time to go to the refugee camp. You all will need to start to work doing menial tasks while I wait in the wilderness for more of our classmates to arrive. Perhaps you could even buy weapons you can use in battle if you earn enough before we leave for the Okrian portal." Hendrix instructed.

Everyone listened and followed Hendrix, and once they arrived at the camp, he stood still.

"Everyone, you can all stay, explore and do what you want. However, once I go to the opposite side of the camp toward the Okrian portal, all of you need to head there immediately. Any questions?" Hendrix replied.

"Will you wait for the whole class before leaving?" Allura asked, hoping Hendrix would.

"No, ill leave when only a week is left before the portal closes if anyone doesn't arrive by then. They will be left behind. I'm not going to risk my existence for theirs." Hendrix bluntly stated before awaiting other questions.

Allura flinched, seeing Hendrix's cold answer.

"Can we come with you and wait? I know you want to go alone, but it's safer with numbers. I mean, what if you get overwhelmed by those creatures?" Damascus asked while shivering, remembering his experience.

"No need, please stay here. I can take care of myself. Any other questions?" Hendrix asked while raising his brow.

"Can I fight you to see who's stronger?" Asher asked while clenching his fists.

"No, you can't, you are injured, and fighting will only worsen those injuries." Hendrix replied while shaking his head.

"I guess our leader is a coward." One of the bullies taunted.

Hendrix didn't even react and instead began walking away, not caring about their opinions of him.

"He indeed is, hahaha!" Another bully replied

All the bullies began to laugh. However, after a few seconds, Allura walked toward them with a dark smile.

"Okay, okay, he's not a coward. Jeez." One of the bullies stated.

(Hello wonderful readers. How are you enjoying the novel so far? What is your favorite part?)