“To paraphrase several sages: Nobody can think and hit someone at the same time.”

- Susan Sontag, Regarding the Pain of Others

You didn't know where you were going. Kris and Suho continued to talk to one another, making marks on their maps and charting things that you did not quite fully understand. But who could blame you? This was your first trip outside your homeland. The valleys and waterfalls in Eliade were less confusing than all these drawings on the musty colored papers.

Luhan and Tao would not talk to each other, period. You didn't know exactly why though. Sure, their cities hated each other, but that did not justify why they couldn't be friends. You knew Tao was a friendly person underneath his cold exterior; he just needed to come out of his shell. Thankfully, he and Kris got along very well. You assumed that Kris' cool, collected nature was perfect for Tao's rashness, and it was good for Tao to be around him.

Tao seemed more on edge than he was when you met him, but it was understandable. He loved his grandmother more than words could express, and leaving her again must have broken his heart. You tried to talk to him several times, but he only lashed out at you in anger. So you did not press the matter any longer.

Kai kept you company while Tao and Luhan were busy avoiding each other and Kris and Suho were planning things. Traveling on steeds took much longer than when you had traveled by dragons, and you missed the feeling of the sky around you, greeting your face with cool gusts of wind. But you weren't much of a complainer.

The only thing that kept you from going insane from boredom was that strange box Tao had received from the Cyreen. The engravings on it were even more spectacular than you had thought originally, and the intricacies left you awestruck. What was it about this box that seemed so important? More importantly, why did the Cyreen give the group such a strange object?

Nonetheless, you traveled from Ura on a path that led out of the city. You continued on the path until you reached the outer gates, the entrance and exit of the Kingdom of Ordea. The gates would lead you into the Outerlands. "Where are we going now?" you asked as Suho calculated something with his variety of strange instruments. "Hm? Oh, we're going to the Caves of Jareth. I hope you're not afraid of the dark," he teased as he looked up at you from his work.

You flinched at his words. "O-Of course not!" you huffed. "Woah there, I was just joking with you. No need to get defensive about it," he replied as he ruffled your hair and went back to his maps. You felt your face become hot and flushed, so you quickly lowered your head to hide your face. "Hey, you okay?" Kai asked as he placed a hand on your shoulder.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," you answered, purposely avoiding his gaze so that he wouldn't see your face. But he grabbed your chin and moved your face into his view. "Hm... Did Suho say something?" he questioned. You took your head out of his hold and shook it quickly. "No! I mean, no, he didn't," you answered. He raised an eyebrow, not believing you. "Are you sure? You don't look too good." "Yeah, I'm fine, really. But thanks anyway," you replied. "Hmm... Okay, if you say so. But if you need anything, just know that I'm here for you, okay?"

"Okay, I will; thanks!" you answered. He smiled, and you all continued through the gates until you were finally outside the borders of Ordea. You noticed a difference of Luhan's demeanor. "Luhan, you look pale." He quickly flashed a smile. "Sorry, this is just... my first time outside Ordea, ever." Your jaw dropped. "You've never been outside of Ordea?"<