"That's not the rule, but this time is different," John said and Arthur got his meaning.
"So?" Arthur asked again, "what can we do?"
"We… sigh, we can't go all alone without getting caught."
"We can wait here then," Arthur said and when John gave him a stern glance he added, "or take them with us."
"No, we better try out our luck instead," John said before adding, "let's rest tomorrow and move the day after."
He put a small piece of red fruit with luster inside his mouth before stretching his body over the ground and closed his eyes.
And Arthur stood there helplessly looking at him. "You are stubborn," he couldn't help but say.
"I'm just trying to survive, that's all," John said without opening his eyes, "I took an oath to myself not to return to such a place ever again. If I get caught, I'm ready to die and not return there."
And Arthur gave him a weirder glance before shaking his head and returning to his spot of training.
Join me at IG, Threads, & Tiktok. Look for: authorranmaro