Chapter 16: New Alliances and Confused Feelings

In an area further north of the ruined city, another refuge had been consolidated. It was not a common refuge, but an exclusive one for the awakened. Unlike the shelter where Lyon and the others were, this group had decided to organize itself as a formal guild.

Approximately thirty people with awakened abilities had survived together since the beginning of the chaos. That group was led by Li Yun, a tall man with dark hair and penetrating eyes. He firmly believed in the union of the strongest to protect each other and, if necessary, impose themselves.

"We can't stay here forever," Li Yun had said in a meeting. It's time to look for other refuges, make alliances and strengthen ourselves. If this new government of awakened people turns out to be a problem, we must be prepared.

The decision was unanimous. They went out in search of other groups, knowing that each alliance would give them more strength to face whatever it was.

After days of exploration, they found the shelter that was about 50 kilometers from where their guild was located. Li Yun ordered them to enter cautiously.

"We will enter without raised weapons, don't activate the manna either," he said. We want an alliance, not a war.

"Identify yourselves," said a man who was at the entrance of the shelter.

Not knowing the men who were walking towards him.

"We are a guild that was formed during the doors, we are all awake," Li Yun spoke looking at the man, keeping calm and speaking with respect.

The man talked to another young man and sent for Lyon, he was the strongest among all those awakened from the shelter and he was the one who gave the most security to the unawakened.

"What's going on?"

Lyon on the way to the man, behind him came Zhen Yu. Both looked at the group of people, while they chatted, many people came to see what was happening, the arrival of the guild shook the tranquility of the shelter. The curious and cautious looks multiplied. Some felt relieved to know that they were not monsters, others restless because they were receiving more people and that could bring problems.

Among the crowd, a boy with dark hair and a sharp look watched with interest at one of the newcomers. His name was Chen Hao, an old friend from Lyon. But Chen Hao was not the only one who was attracted to someone.

Chen Hao noticed a tall young man, with an agile complexion and a carefree smile. But when his eyes fell on Zhen Yu, something in him lit up. There was something in the way Zhen Yu kept calm, an intriguing serenity.

With a playful smile, Chen Hao approached slowly, Lyon followed all of Chen Hao's movements until he approached Zhen Yu, however, he did not stop his conversation with Li Yun.

"Wow, I never imagined finding someone like you in this place," he said, his deep voice containing a soft but direct tone.

Zhen Yu turned his head, his eyes reflecting surprise at Chen Hao's sudden closeness.

"Excuse me?"

Chen Hao tilted his head, his flirtatious smile never disappeared during the conversation

—It's not every day that you see someone interesting in the middle of all this chaos. What's your name?

Lyon, who was right next to Zhen Yu talking to Li Yun, felt his jaw tense when he heard the conversation. He didn't like the way Chen Hao had approached Zhen Yu at all.

Zhen Yu, without noticing Lyon's discomfort, replied calmly:

"My name is Zhen Yu."

"A unique name, for a beauty," Chen Hao commented, his eyes fixed on Zhen Yu's. Tell me, Zhen Yu, are you new to this awakened thing?

Zhen Yu a little confused, barely opened his mouth to answer, but before he could say anything, Lyon cut off the conversation with Li Yun and intervened quickly.

"He doesn't have much to tell, he barely woke up recently. Right, Zhen Yu? -he said, giving him a firm look.

Zhen Yu looked at him with more confusion, but nodded slowly.

"Yes... something like that."

Chen Hao narrowed his eyes, looked at Lyon, since they separated at the time of the first door, they had not been able to talk again, he thought he could meet again and continue the friendship of so many years, but seeing him so defensively made him feel strange, however, when he saw Lyon's gaze on Zhen Yu and him, he could realize something, although he was not completely sure.

"Well, then maybe you could teach me some tricks when you have time," Chen Hao said with a friendly tone.

"Of course, I would love to"

"Oh, but right now we have training, right?" Lyon interrupted, placing a firm hand on Zhen Yu's shoulder.

"But... we were just training..." he murmured seeing Lyon's gaze on him.

Zhen Yu sighed, although he was somewhat overwhelmed and surprised by Lyon's insistence, he nodded at Lyon's question. Chen Hao, for his part, let out a soft laugh.

"It seems that Lyon doesn't want to share you," Chen Hao commented, with confidence and raising a mischievous eyebrow.

Lyon for his part, did not want Chen Hao and Zhen Yu to approach, there was something he did not like when his friend approached Zhen Yu, he was happy to see him, but not in this way.

"It's not that," Lyon replied quickly. It's just that we're in the middle of a strict training program.

"Oh, of course, understanding, well Lyon it was a pleasure to see you again friend, Zhen Yu see you soon beautiful," said Chen Hao, but his smile indicated that he would not give up so easily.

The guild decided to stay in the shelter for a few weeks, enough time to recover and plan their next moves. During those days, Chen Hao tried to get closer to Zhen Yu on several occasions.

Whenever he had the opportunity, he looked for him to talk to him, taking an interest in Zhen Yu, his skills and his way of seeing the world.

"Zhen Yu, would you like to go out and explore with me later?" Chen Hao asked, his kind tone and his intense look.

"Yes, I think we could"

"I'm sorry, but Zhen Yu and I have to review our combat strategies," Lyon interrupted with a forced smile.

Zhen Yu looked at Lyon, somewhat perplexed and angry by the insistence. Chen Hao, for his part, began to find the situation funny.

Another day, during dinner, Chen Hao took the opportunity to sit next to Zhen Yu.

"Tell me, what were you doing before all this started?"

Zhen Yu doubted his words a little and answered Chen Hao.

"Well, I"

"Zhen Yu!" I need you to help me with something after dinner - Lyon interrupted again, his voice a little higher than usual.

Zhen Yu slowly turned his head towards Lyon, noticing how he tried to maintain a neutral expression. Chen Hao also looked at him, already quite aware of what was happening, wondering if Lyon and Zhen Yu were fools for not realizing their actions.

"It seems that you are always busy, huh, Zhen Yu?" Chen Hao commented, casting a funny look at Lyon.

"Yes, I guess," Zhen Yu replied, confused.

The tension in the shelter grew with each passing day. Lyon seemed more restless, and Chen Hao more determined to find out what made him so uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, in another part of the shelter, Selene watched everything with a mocking smile.

Sitting next to her mother, she enthusiastically told her what was happening between her brother, Zhen Yu and Chen Hao.

"Mom, Lyon is acting in a very funny and impulsive way." Every time Chen Hao tries to talk to Zhen Yu, Lyon interrupts him.

Lyon's mother laughed softly.

"Really?"

"Yes." It's obvious that he doesn't like to see them together, although he himself doesn't even realize why he feels that way, not even the way he acts, yesterday I wondered why it bothered him so much to see them together and I couldn't tell him anything, because I couldn't stop laughing.

Lyon's mother rested her chin on her hand, with an expression of tenderness.

"My little Lyon is falling more and more in love with Zhen Yu...

Selene nodded with a big smile.

—Totally. And best of all, he hasn't even noticed yet.

Lyon's mother let out a low laugh.

"We'll have to see until when he continues to deny it

The shelter, which was once a place of security and planning, had now also become a scene of confused and growing emotions. And while Chen Hao had fun provoking Lyon, Zhen Yu began to question what was really happening.

The newcomers scattered around the shelter, observing the facilities and assessing their condition. Some exchanged words with the awakened who already lived there, sharing stories about how they had survived until now. Others, on the other hand, seemed more reserved, observing everything with a calculating attitude.

Lyon kept watching his friend, who was still trying to get closer to Zhen Yu.

"Tell me, Zhen Yu," said the boy, resting an elbow on the table while looking at him with interest, "do you already have someone to train you?" Because if not, I could help you.

Zhen Yu watched him in silence for a moment before answering calmly:

—Lyon has been helping me.

Lyon's friend raised an eyebrow and gave Lyon a funny look.

"Oh, wow." I didn't know you were the protective type," he commented with a playful tone.

Lyon clenched his fists without realizing it.

"I'm just making sure he trains well."

The boy smiled.

"Of course, of course." Even so, Zhen Yu, if you ever want to learn something new, tell me. I'm sure I can teach you a couple of tricks that Lyon doesn't know.

Lyon felt that his patience was running out.

"I don't think it's necessary," he interrupted before Zhen Yu could answer. Come on, Zhen Yu, we have things to do.

Without giving him the option to answer, he took Zhen Yu by the arm and took him out of the dining room.

Once in a more remote corridor, Lyon let him go and sighed in frustration.

"You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to," he murmured, avoiding Zhen Yu's gaze.

Zhen Yu tilted his head slightly, amused by Lyon's attitude.

"It doesn't bother me to talk to him," he replied naturally. But it seems that you do.

Lyon frowned and crossed his arms.

"I just don't want you to trust the wrong people."

Zhen Yu smiled softly, without looking away from Lyon.

"Or don't you want me to talk to someone else?"

Lyon felt his face heat up, but he looked away quickly.

"Do what you want," he murmured before walking away, leaving Zhen Yu with a small smile on his lips.