Chapter 14: Unexpected Heartbeat

The dawn came to the shelter with a deceptive calm. Although the city was still immersed in chaos, inside the shelter people began to wake up and prepare for a new day.

Lyon opened his eyes slowly, feeling a strange feeling of warmth. It took him a few seconds to realize that he was still lying near Zhen Yu. For some reason, their closeness felt more natural than it should be.

He turned his head and found Zhen Yu already awake, looking at the ceiling with a neutral expression.

"Didn't you sleep at all?" Lyon asked in a hoarse voice because of the dream.

Zhen Yu turned his face slightly towards him.

"A little." But I'm not used to this.

Lyon stretched, letting out a yawn.

"You'll get used to it."

Zhen Yu did not answer, but his gaze reflected something that Lyon did not know how to interpret.

Before I could ask him anything else, the door of the room opened and Selene poked her head out.

"Good morning, sleepyheads," he said with a mocking smile. You can tell they slept well.

Lyon gave him a tired look.

"Speaking of sleeping... you do it without worries."

"It's a talent," Selene replied proudly. Get ready, mom wants us to have breakfast together.

Zhen Yu nodded without saying much, while Lyon sat on the bed with a sigh.

Selene closed the door, and for a moment, silence settled again between the two of them.

"I guess we should get up," Lyon finally said.

"I guess so," Zhen Yu repeated.

Despite his words, neither moved immediately, the eyes of both could not turn away from the other, however, Zhen Yu was the first to get up to go have breakfast.

Lyon let out a laugh when he saw him escape with a blush, despite the situation he was going through, he was happy... but he didn't understand why exactly he felt that warm feeling.

Both already ready, they entered the large dining room that they had prepared in the shelter, the atmosphere was quite lively, several had already woken up, while others celebrated that they had been able to wake up during the morning training.

"That's how it's done, Feng Hua."

- We're going to train you, this afternoon, get ready.

Breakfast was in a relaxed atmosphere. Lyon's mother and other older women who were in charge of the food along with some young women received them with a warm smile, serving generous portions of food to everyone present.

"Zhen Yu, did you get used to the shelter?" the woman asked kindly.

"Yes, thank you for receiving me here," he replied politely.

"You don't have to thank me. In times like these, the important thing is to support us.

Zhen Yu nodded, not getting completely used to the warmth of the woman.

While they were eating, Lyon felt Selene's gaze on him several times. Finally, he sighed and looked at her tiredly.

"What's up?" Why do you look at me like that? Say it if you have something to say

Selene smiled suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing... I was just thinking about something."

Lyon narrowed her eyes, but decided to ignore her.

However, her mother seemed to share the same air of complicity as Selene.

"Lyon, what will you do today?"

"Train a little," he replied. I want to try some things with my skill and see if I can level up or learn some new ones.

His mother nodded with approval.

"That's good." A strong hunter is a prepared hunter.

Zhen Yu looked at him sideways.

"Can I accompany you to training?"

Lyon blinked in surprise before nodding.

"Yes, it's okay."

Selene exchanged a look with her mother, and the woman smiled tenderly.

"So, enjoy your day and be careful, I'll be watching you," he said, without completely hiding his amusement.

Lyon did not immediately understand the intention behind his words, but when he looked at Zhen Yu and noticed the slight blush on his face, he felt that something in his chest was beating harder than normal.

Before he could process it further, a sound of hurried footsteps interrupted the tranquility of the dining room.

A young stranger came in, breathing with agitation. His clothes were dirty and torn, but his expression was determined, many murmured, the first to approach was the Lyon who was basically considered the leader of the shelter by the others.

On the other hand, Selene, who had also approached to listen, let the boy tell the news.

"Everyone listen! He's going to talk."

Everyone shut up and paid attention, they wanted to know what was going on.

"News!" he exclaimed, attracting the attention of everyone in the room. The survivors we find in another shelter are starting to rebuild the city and we already have a government composed of awakened people.

A murmur of surprise ran through the room.

"How do you know?" someone asked from another table.

The boy wiped the sweat from his forehead before answering, he was tired, so they gave him some water.

"I come from another shelter further south." Some areas of the city are clear, and the awakened have organized themselves to protect them while the other survivors begin to repair what they can.

Lyon's mother leaned slightly forward.

"And what about the government you mention?"

The young man took a deep breath before releasing the most shocking news.

—The original government, as you could see, collapsed with the crisis. But a new group of awakened people took control and they are organizing a leadership system. They are calling all hunters and unawakened people to help restore order.

The dining room was completely silent.

Lyon felt a chill run down his back. A new government led by awakened people... what did that mean for the future?

Zhen Yu, for his part, narrowed his eyes, evaluating the information.

Selene crossed her arms.

"So, we not only have to worry about the doors, but also about this new government.

Lyon's mother sighed.

"Things are changing too fast.

Lyon clenched his fists.

"If they are calling the hunters and the non-awakened... Does that mean they want us to work for them?"

The young man nodded.

"It seems so, but they just want to rebuild the city we used to live in. They are not forcing anyone, but they say that anyone who wants a secure future should join.

The words weighed on the minds of Lyon and the others.