The roof of their cottage, made of straw and hay, not even sure if it's strong enough to stand in the midst of the storm, or a good enough shelter when it rains hard. Kiel and Jolene had been examining it for a while as they lie on their mats. Both of them were wide awake, staring straight from each side of the hut.

It has been half an hour of gazing at nothing before Jolene looked at Kiel, she noticed he was also wide awake, she casually returned her stare to the ceiling just like him.

"Can't sleep?"

"You too?" Her body was fully covered by her blanket up until neck, still, she shrugged, "Yeah, I don't know why exactly..." Her voice was only above a whisper but it was loud enough in the quiet night.

"Yeah right, you're probably thinking on how to convince Alana to come with us tomorrow." Kiel's voice was raspy and lazy but he meant his point. His body was also covered with their blanket but his other leg was outside of it.

Jolene rolled her eyes, she can't respond because he was right. "S-so what if I'm thinking about that? She obviously wanted to go too." She defensively replied, her voice went a little louder. Kiel rolled to face Jolene's side and smirked, "Wow, you know how she's feeling, I thought Alana was the only empath here?" Jolene scoffed and rose to sit, she looked at the window beside her.

The moon was alluring, giving a peaceful vibe to the dark night. She stared at it for a while, not thinking about anything.

That is until she noticed few quick shadows moving under the moonlight. She furrowed her brows and looked closely. She crawled closer towards the window but hid so she won't be seen, her eyes were the only ones visible. She gasped when she finally confirms there are people discreetly running in the village. "Psst Kiel.." She called in a whisper.

Kiel, who has his eyes closed and ready to sleep, opened one of his eyes, "What is it?" His voice was even lazier.

"I think something's up, there's a group of people running around the village quietly," Jolene explained without leaving her stare away from the shadows. Kiel had a confused expression painted on his face after hearing what she said. Out of curiosity, he also went to the window and peeked outside. The sleepiness that was starting to form in him instantly vanished when he saw that Jolene is right. He shrunk his eyes as he look closely at the group of shadows running towards something. "They are surely up to no good. We have to follow them."

Jolene gulped, her heart started thumping hard, she looked at him and nodded. They both stood up and went out to discreetly follow the shadows. They hid behind bushes and trees, keeping a safe distance from the people they are following. Soon, the group of men stopped in front of what seems to be a huge storehouse just a few meters away from the mining cave.

Jolene and Kiel, who were hiding behind a tree simply watched them. Jolene gasped, "Kiel, I think they are about to steal whatever is in that storehouse." she whispered. One of the men brought out a large bolt cutter to cut the chain around the door of the place. the metal chains easily snapped and the door was now wide open. The men are clothed in complete black and had their faces covered, but their eyes brightened in unison as they saw the glimmer of the rocks from the outside. "The benitoite..." their leader, who was in front, couldn't help himself but be amazed by the number of precious rocks that are in front of them. "Quick, let's get them," he ordered to the others.

But before they could even get a step from where they are standing,

Before Kiel could even step out from where he's hidden,

"Amazing how you got this far, but I'm sorry to burst your bubbles, no one gets in without me knowing-- because I'm the gatekeeper." A lady in red hood called out to the men.

"Alana..." Kiel was stunned to where he was standing as he watches Alana facing these men alone, but she doesn't seem disturbed at all. He counted them, there's ten men in front of her. The leader chuckled, "We've heard about you! Pretty brave for you to come face us by yourself." Alana looked up, she glared at the men in front of her. Her fiery red eyes stood out in the darkness of the night. Some of the men were observably petrified,

"Monster..." she heard one of them said.

"I'm giving you a chance to leave peacefully. The benitoite will never be yours."

"Not a chance little girl" the leader gestured at two other men, "Both of you come with me, the others, finish this nuisance," he said as he comes inside the storehouse along with two other men. Meanwhile, the others blocked at the door from her. Alana gritted her teeth, obviously provoked, "Then I'll throw all of you out myself!" she exclaimed as she ran towards them.

Three people in front of her drew out long combat knives and attacked her as well. Alana smirked, it was usual for intruders to underestimate her. But she's not just a gatekeeper, she's a front-line warrior. One by one, the masked men are surprised by how fast she dodges their attack and strikes back at them. Her agility is on point and the darkness of the night made her more unpredictable. She's been training ever since a kid, and she's one of the best they have.

However, these men are not good for nothing, they fall down but they get up to fight once more. Alana is now fighting three men at once, four of them are not moving, stunned at the sight, but believes that the three were more than enough to handle the fight. The other three, including the leader, are inside the storehouse, filling up their bags with the stones.

Alana looked at those three inside, they had to be stopped, but these men outside are keeping her busy. On that one second of distraction, one man managed to strangle her neck with his arms from behind.

"How embarrassing for all of you to gang up against one girl." everyone stopped and looked at where the voice came from. Kiel was standing on the side, with fists clenched hard.

Now, it's time for Alana to use that moment of distraction and headbutted the person holding her. He held on to his face and let go of Alana, she knocked him out with one kick in the jaw. The masked men knew what to do, some of them went to Kiel and others to Alana. Kiel ran towards her and they began fighting side to side. Jolene watched behind the tree as her two friends seem to be invincible as they fight together.

"I have to go inside the storehouse, cover me!" Alana told him as she starts running towards the storehouse. Kiel covered her and started pulling the men following her. Now it's six men against him. Alana finally entered the storehouse and Kiel stood at the entrance of it, making sure that no one else gets inside. One of the men scoffed at Kiel, "You're damn cocky to think you can hold us from entering." Kiel chuckled, "We will see..." it's been so long since he fought, while has was in school, he couldn't bring himself to hurt those who are obviously weaker than him, but now in this journey, he actually had the chance to fight someone once more. It makes his adrenaline flow again and it makes him smile unconsciously.

Jolene was holding her mouth in shock from watching Kiel fight. She had briefly seen him fight the guards the last time, but it was halted because she was caught captive by Alana, now that he's on his own, he seemed indestructible as he flips the masked men one by one. The punches he throws are fearsome judging on how the men groan after getting hit. Kiel bawls like some wild animal as he fights all of them at once. He is securely holding all of them from entering.

Jolene ran away, she is no help there. While she was running away from the scene, she thought of something that makes her smile. Kiel can't show his ability, but he has more to offer.

Meanwhile, the three men who are inside the storehouse are busy filling up their bags with benitoite. They buried their hands deep into the pile of stones and grinned, "We surely hit the jackpot!" One of them says. "Drop the benitoites." they heard a firm voice behind them. The men looked behind and saw Alana at a fair distance. They looked at the front door and saw someone else had been fighting against the others, "So, you've had help."

"I really dislike outsiders, especially the type that just wanted the stones, I'm so impatient towards you people." Alana said in disgust, "Just so you know, you're not the first ones, and no one succeeded so far." she said before she ran towards them.

"I'll handle this." the leader said as he pulled a knife to fight her. He ran and attacked her with his knife. Alana quickly dodges every swing of his knife. He swung to her face and she dodged it by squatting down, then she grabbed his arm with her two hands on each end of it and kneed his elbow.

The man roared in pain and dropped his weapon in front of her. He took several steps back as he holds on to his broken arm, "You will pay for this!" He angrily shouted at her. Both of them looked at the entrance where Kiel was sent flying inside by a kick. There are only two men left fighting with him. Alana came to help Kiel stand up. The two men fighting Kiel stood at a fair distance from them. Now, the other two who has been collecting the stones also came near to them to fight.

"Can you still fight?" Alana asked Kiel without losing her sight of the four men in front of them. They are cornered at the side of the storehouse. Kiel, although bruised on his left cheekbone, chuckled and raised his fist in position, "Hell yeah." He replied.

"Enough." The leader behind exclaimed, his other arm was limping but he managed to pull out a remote control with only one button to press with his other arm, "I'm tired of playing with you mutts. Leave us alone, we have placed bombs at random homes on our way here, if I press this button... you know what's going to happen." he chuckled.

"He's obviously bluffing," Kiel told to Alana.

"I wish, but no, he's telling the truth." Alana worriedly says as she looks at the man using her ability.

The leader ordered the four men to pick up the bags filled with stones. Then they went to the entrance to help and wake their other members. Kiel and Alana remained where they were standing because the leader was watching them. One single foul movement could cause casualties.

"We'll be taking our leave, see you next time!" He said as they all get ready to go. The masked men are at the entrance while Kiel and Alana are still standing at the corner of the storehouse. "Drop the controller now and leave." Alana calmly said. The man tilted his head, "Hmm.. you don't think I'd be that dumb now do you?" He looked at the controller and evilly smiled, "Besides, for sure you and the guards will try to capture us once we are out of here. We would need a distraction."

At that moment Alana knew what's about to happen. Everything happened really slow to her at his point. She tried to run as fast as she can to reach him. She will just take seconds to do so, but pressing that button takes just a millisecond.

She won't be able to stop him.

"Stop!" A loud voice echoed around the entire storeroom.

The next thing they knew, they can't move.

The man's thumb was on top of the button.

Alana was nowhere near him yet.

The other men were also statued to their positions now.

All except Kiel.

Alana watched him unaware that people are now immobile. Kiel looked at someone walking near the entrance. Alana's gaze turned there too.

There's Jolene. Her eyes glimmering in silver. Jolene walked and faced the man holding the button. The man obviously wanted to move but he can't seem to do so. "Drop it," Jolene commanded in a straight cold expression.

"No." The man gritted his teeth while staring at Jolene. Jolene did not respond, the man dropped his controller to the ground. "What?" The man was in total confusion as he lost control over his body. Jolene knelt down to pick up the controller he dropped.

Unfortunately, her ability betrayed her. Her eyes stopped glimmering without her knowing. As soon as Jolene's power was off, everyone was able to move again. Especially the man in front of Jolene. He drew a small knife from his waist and aimed to stab her.

Jolene looked up and saw what was coming, she covered herself with her arms and closed her eyes. But nothing happened to her as one of the village men caught the man's arm and had it twisted behind him. The village warrior also held his other arm which made the man scream in pain as it was already broken. Then, Kiel pulled Jolene, "Jolene! Are you okay?" he worriedly asked. She nodded, "I called for help." She said, referring to the villagers that are now handling the masked men.

"Your ability, it was exceptional." Alana came towards them smiling. Jolene smiled back and gave Alana a pat on the shoulder, "Says the badass fighter, how are you?"

"I'm completely fine, thanks to you guys." The three of them walked out and saw the masked men kneeling on the ground, all tied up, surrounded by the village warriors. The chief of the village was also there, he unmasked the man who was the leader. "Tell me who you are, you and your men." The chief told him. "We are just researchers who discovered that benitoite can be found in this place" Alana was about to step into the interrogation to tell that the man is lying but the chief suddenly slapped the man. "I will know if you're lying so don't bother."

The man looked up at the chief after being slapped, he gave a piercing look at him before he spat out blood, "Fine, we are Bolton's men. We grew tired of him not wanting to share your location with the rest of us, that old man probably wanted to keep this secret until his death. So I decided to follow him secretly to here, and now I found where the benitoites come from."

"He didn't tell any of you because he knew this would happen!" Alana couldn't help but speak out.

"Take them to the cell." The chief ordered their soldiers. The chief then walked to approach Alana, Kiel, and Jolene, "Thank you so much for protecting the village. We will take it from here, get some rest."

"I'll come with you father." Alana said "No Alana, go home now. " that's what he only said before completely leaving. Alana scratched her head, "Weird, he always let me come with him. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow." Jolene smiled, "Yeah, we'll also get some rest." Then they departed ways.

Jolene and Kiel are now walking back to their hut. "Does it hurt?" Jolene asked, pointing at Kiel's bruise on the face. "Nah." He replied but he moved away in fear that Jolene would touch it. "You and Alana are really good at fighting, I wish I was like that too."

"Fighting can be learned, but the bravery you showed there? Man, you faced him even if you know you can't really control your ability!"

"And it almost cost me my life"

"But you saved the villagers from the bombs. No one else could have stopped that." Jolene smiled at him, he smiled back. They finally reached the hut and they are now back lying on their mats. Both of them gazing at the same ceiling they were looking at a few hours ago. Once again, Jolene broke the silence, "Anyway, I've been wondering how you learned to fight. You didn't seem like you haven't fought before. You managed to withhold six men! I mean, I know Alana had trained here, but you... "

Jolene waited for Kiel to speak, but he remained quiet, he looked up at the ceiling again trying to avoid her stare. Jolene sided, facing Kiel, "You didn't just land on the orphanage did you?"

Kiel sighed and looked back at her, he shifted his body in her direction too, "Right. I was... rescued."

Jolene gasped, Kiel obviously shifted his mood. "Tell me what happened to you, right after the night we escaped."

"It doesn't matter."

"You'd feel better if you share it. Have you ever told anyone?"

Kiel looked down to think, no one knows, not even Troy.

"So that's a no." Jolene assumed after him being quiet for a while.

"You won't stop until I tell you, will you?"

"Okay, you don't have to share it if it's too hard for you. I just wanted to know what my friend has been through after managing to escape..." she murmured. She closed her eyes, convinced that that would be the end of their conversation.

Kiel sighed and laid down straight with eyes wide open, "That night, I went to Van to take him to the escape. We managed to run out of the orphanage. We were running towards the gate, the guards were able to see us, they ran after us... but then we managed to reach the gate..."

Jolene looked at him closely as she listens to what is next.

"...after a few steps away from the gate, Van was shot."