So... sister's POV (second half of the chapter) is terrible and I apologize for it. Triggers: death, fear, fire that goes boom.
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Once we come near where the dragon's attendants are traveling together with their horses across the hot desert, Yoongi makes us descend from the sky in pace with the others, and the sensation that fills me is by far my least favourite so far. It feels like I'm leaving my organs way high up in the sky.

Namjoon tries to assist me in breathing properly, and when he sees that it doesn't work, he decides to soothe me with his voice and touch instead. He should've warned me, but to him, Yoongi's descent is a lot softer than what he's used to, so it hadn't crossed his mind.

"We're almost there, my dear, the ground is just beneath us" he muses once Yoongi's wings begin to spread wider as he prepares the landing with as little impact as possible. He really wants to be careful for my sake.

I keep my eyes closed and nod my head, hands gripping onto his arms with all of my strength, is my heart still with me? It sounds so loud to my ears but I get the feeling that it's still very far behind us, somewhere in the clouds that decorate the sky. Maybe it will never find its way back to me ever again.

The landing is abrupt and shakes throughout my entire body as Yoongi's feet finally touch the ground. The heat of the desert takes a moment to be felt on my skin, and when it does, it feels almost scorching due to the contrast from the sky's coldness. Has the desert always been so hot?

"There, that went well" Namjoon claims as he begins to move one leg to the other side so he can prepare to jump down from Yoongi's dragon form, a pleased look in his eyes, as if he truly believes what he just said.

I eye him nervously, not finding it in me to agree with his small sentence. Things went well, so why do I still feel like I'm missing half of my organs? Why do I feel like we're still going down when we're very firm on land? Will I ever get used to this?

Without a word, Namjoon slides down Yoongi's flank, leaving me overly aware that I'm now alone on top of a dragon. The others shift into their human form quickly, and Taehyung runs over smoothly despite the unstable surface of sand beneath his feet to pat Yoongi's front leg, his eyes up on me.

"Sand is perfect for practice. Why don't you try to come down as Namjoon did, little one? You'll see, it's not as scary as it looks. One leg over, steady yourself for the landing, and slide down his side. We'll be right here, you're safe" he says, voice meant to be comforting, though what he's asking of me is all but.

I have been ready for war, this was always something I knew could happen with my job. I have been ready to serve my kingdom and die for its people, but sliding down a dragon that's as big as a house when lying down? That wasn't meant to happen so soon in my mind, if it was ever meant to happen at all.

Seeing the six dragon knights gather at Yoongi's left foot to better assist me, their eyes looking at me like I am but a frightened little child, well... my pride is a little affected. I might not have shown Namjoon the bravery I would have liked, but I'm not about to do the same mistake twice.

Following Taehyung's directives despite the fact that I can feel my body shaking on its own, I move one leg to the other side, now sat sideways on Yoongi's back. His wings are now folded neatly against his body, large leather skin that absorbs the light of the sun, and I find myself thinking against all odds that it's great, the way his scales don't reflect back the sun right in my eyes.

I look back down to where the others are, throat squeezed tight as my pulse beats in my ears. I can do this. It's just a little slide down a house. A house dragon. A very big dragon.

"You can do this, sugar" Jungkook encourages sweetly, his blue and green eyes filled with trust, as if there's no possibility of me disappointing him. That makes me feel firmer where I am, even as Yoongi's big head turns to try and have a look at me.

They're not waiting for me to fail. They're not here to destabilize me and then laugh at my expense. These dragons have never done me harm, and rather have always believed in me. They truly believe that I can do this.

I take in a deep breath, wipe my hands on my pants, then push forward.

The slippery surface of Yoongi's smooth scales allow for a speed I had not considered, and had it not been for the sand, my legs' bones would have merged into one shattered mess. My feet hit the sand first, and as it moves and shifts beneath my weight, my body dips forward to my knees and hands, eyes round with shock but heart filled with success.

"I-I did it" I mutter more to myself than for the others, and hands fit right under my arms to lift me up with ease, the face that greets me Seokjin's as he smiles widely, his grey eyes staring back at me with pride and love.

"You sure did. We knew you could do it" he muses as he helps me to my feet before getting as much sand off my body as he can. "For a first attempt, that was very good, although you will need to learn how to land properly. You fell on your toes, which is why you fell forward like this. Where we anywhere else, you would've broken them" he explains gently as he grabs my hands next to caress the slightly irritated skin.

"But you did good" he repeats, just so I know that he's truly proud of me.

Yoongi shifts back to his human form, then stretches with a grunt right as their attendants finally reach our area with extra horses besides them. Surprisingly, I see both men and women, though one of them confuses me. They look like they could be either one flawlessly. It's fascinating to my eyes that have seen the loud line that separates genders back in Orton for so long.

"Mesley, it's good to see you" Namjoon says warmly to one of the men as they finally reach our group. One of the horses neighs happily at the sight of him, and the dragon smiles. "I thank you all for making this trip so last minute. I fear there has been yet again a change of plans. We would need you to head to Orton to retrieve Bear and Eclipse, as we will be continuing to the Capital from the sky".

One of them, a young girl with the cutest pigtails, droops on top of her cinnamon coloured horse with a loud, tired sigh. "I wish I was a dragon too" she complains. "I could go anywhere I want, without having to suffer the heat of the desert. I wouldn't mind then, being sent left and right all the time like this".

"Nya" Yoongi warns.

"Yes, Sir" she pouts in answer as her coworkers gaze fondly over her.

"Don't worry, Sir Namjoon" Mesley answers, his stature one of a leader, very much like his master. His hair is ruffled by the wind, and his skin shows countless battle scars. "We have been enjoying this trip through endless bickering from Nya, Rory and Sanke, we can certainly handle more. May I ask who this is?" he asks next as his eyes fall on me, which means all of theirs.

I feel myself shrink slightly, their curiosity not one I have been taught to be harmless.

Are they going to sneer at me? What if they think that I don't deserve to be their masters' mate? Hoseok's arm wraps around my shoulders proudly, and his smile as he gazes at me washes away all worries before he even answers them.

"This delightful young woman is our mate. Taehyung found her in Orton, which is why we all ended up there within a week. She's coming back to the Capital with us. She's a knight and thus your superior, so I ask that you show her the respect she deserves. It has been hard for her up until now, and she could do with some kindness".

I purse my lips shyly, then bow to the group of attendants that have been by their sides for longer than I have. "It is very much nice to meet you. I am Y/N Aithne Shields, from Goldwyn. I have heard only good things about you".

Without fault, they all bring a hand to their chest before bowing atop their horses, a clear sign of respect that I have never been shown before. The dragons' eyes crease at the sight, and Jimin rubs a hand over my back as he joins my other side, opposite to Hoseok.

"A pleasure to meet you, Dame Y/N. I am Mesley, Sir Namjoon's attendant. This is Ronald, Vinan, Sanke, Helmja, Rory and Nya. We have been selected as their attendants five years ago, and are on our way to becoming full fledged knights. Your guidance would be much appreciated".

My guidance? I blink numbly at those words, not having expected them at all. Am I good enough to guide these young people on the path to knighthood? I seem to be only a few years older than them, and yet they seem much more skilled than I am.

"Yes... it would be a pleasure" I mutter with another bow, if only to hide the emotions currently flashing through my eyes.

"Isn't Orton like... the worst place for a woman to be? And you managed to become a knight?" a woman who looks to be around the same age as Nya speaks this time, eyes locked on me and head tilted to the side, her thick red hair a mess of curls and sand that haven't been cared for in a while because of the environment.

Another tougher looking woman, all tanned skin, black hair and sharp eyes, hits her in the ribs with a scowl.

"Rory" she barks dryly. "Be considerate and use your brain a little. Despite the harshness of her circumstances, she managed to become a knight. This speaks of her skills more than your blabbering ever will. You wouldn't have made it this far were you in her shoes, so be careful with the way you speak to her".

Jimin looks pleased as he nods at the woman with the thick accent, one that I recognize to be from a desert village days from here. Jungkook, on the contrary, looks at Rory with a sigh.

"We're still working on her speech" he says as he turns his gaze to me. "Don't take her bluntness personally. She's very simple minded, but her heart is warm and bright. She's from one of the farming villages around the Capital, where they grow most of the orchards and some wheat, they're known to be blunt in that area. Rory, apologize to Dame Y/N".

Her horse snorts as the young woman nearly falls off while bowing, like it is mocking her, and the androgynous person, who is named Sanke, looks the other way to hide a laugh beneath one hand, most of the horses by their side which I assume to be the dragons'.

The animals look unimpressed by the situation, eyes on my mates and then on me, like they're sizing me up. Maybe they are.

"Sir Jungkook, Helmja, you're both right. Dame Y/N, forgive my inappropriate bluntness. I swear I don't do it on purpose, I'm just a little dumb at times" Rory says, and my eyes widen, hands shaking before me as if that would do anything.

"N-no, it's really nothing" I blurt out, to which she glances up with puppy eyes. "Your question did not bother me, Orton does have quite the reputation so I understand the curiosity. This isn't worth calling yourself dumb over".

"Sir Jungkook" Rory muses with faint admiration in her voice. "I approve of your new mate. I love her".

Lips stretch into amused and pleased smiles, while on the contrary, I feel myself blush before ultimately hiding my face behind Hoseok's arm. I am not used to this type of attention and it's taking me out of my comfort zone. Assholes I can deal with, but this? It's a whole new world.

"We are not sharing her with you" Jimin states jealously as he wraps both hands around my waist, his eyes narrowed on their attendants, further flustering me while the women giggle, a resounding happy squeal filling the desert.

"Okay, okay" Namjoon steps in to my rescue with an endeared chuckle. "Y/N has not seen her family in a long time, so we shall resume our travel to the Capital. You may head to Seadhor on your way back if the thought pleases you, as our way to apologize for the needless trip you have begun. Have some food, and here's some money as well".

A pouch is pushed inside one of the bags of food, and Vinan, a dark-skinned man with nearly black dreadlocks, some decorated with golden pearls, accepts the load with a polite bow before settling it at the back of his saddle, with everything else they've been carrying into the desert.

"Thank you for your generous offer" speaks Ronald, this time, who wears thin glasses and very short hair. He has a thick scar on his cheek, which seems to be years old already, paler than his tanned skin. "We could certainly do with a fresh sea breeze before facing the desert again on the way back to the capital".

"Ah, the sea would be lovely indeed" adds Sanke with a dreamy tone, a hand caressing the long braid over their shoulder. "I'll never get used to the desert, never. My skin feels dry, and my hair is suffering. Dame Y/N's skin could certainly do with some hydrating skincare too".

I lift a hand to my face, is it really that bad? I've never been one to care much for things like that.

"Not everyone is as obsessed with skincare as you are, Sanke" Nya huffs with a shake of the head, which makes her pigtails sway. "Your skin is glowing enough already as it is. Some more and you'll blind everyone-"

Taehyung clears his throat before they start fighting, and I feel a grin pushing against my lips. They're full of life, and it feels nice compared to the toxic ambiance of bigotry at Orton. If only everyone could treat others like this instead of feeding the hatred that exists for women's own independence.

"We shall be on our way, and so should you" he says with his warm baritone. "The night will fall before you know it, so make sure to camp early and get a fire going. If you proceed at a good pace, you should be able to sleep on a warm bed tomorrow. Ask for Commander Rayner when you get there, he's already expecting you".

"My master truly is the best" Sanke chirps happily as they stare at Taehyung with admiration.

"Our masters are all equally impressive" Ronald states firmly, his eyes also shining as he bows towards Seokjin. "Come now, we should go while the sun is still keeping us warm. The further we are into the desert, the colder the night. I wouldn't say no to a warm bed".

With that follows a silent consensus as the group naturally gathers the extra horses among themselves, and Hoseok waves softly at one of the beasts, who makes a small snorting sound at the sight. I can't wait to meet their horses properly back in the capital. Eclipse might even fall in love with one of those handsome stallions, who knows?

I would love a baby version of Eclipse. I bet they'd be so cute.

"Sir Namjoon, Lady Y/N, I shall see you back at the capital" Mesley says with a bow atop his horse, after which he gets on his way, the other attendants forming a practiced formation behind him as easy chatters resume between them.

I follow them with my eyes until the sand hides most of them from sight. "They're very nice people" I comment softly as the arms that were holding me fall at the dragons' sides.

"They are, aren't they? We selected them ourselves, and I dare say, we chose well. Their hearts are pure and kind. It truly is a pleasure to show them the way to figuring out what kind of knight they aspire to be. Vinan, for example, doesn't really speak much, but his mind is extraordinary. Very strategic, I imagine he will work more specifically from behind the scene in the future".

"Vinan... he's the one with the dreadlocks, right?" I ask, eyes falling on the gorgeous red haired dragon.

"Yes. He grew up in one of the prospering cities in the thickness of the jungle, far from the capital. He ended up there to learn more about the outside world, but I know he longs for his home more than he says. In a way, he reminds me of you, sweet Aithne" Hoseok muses as he gazes down at me. "You both work very hard to offer a better life for your families, all at the expense of yourselves".

I purse my lips lightly. Not everyone has enough will to face such struggles for the sake of their family. Vinan must love them a lot. It's not easy to be so far away from the people you want to protect.

"We all have reasons behind our actions" I let out as I look back into the distance. "Some do it for others, while some may do it for themselves, but in the end, it all serves a purpose. I hope they get to accomplish their goals, one day".

Jimin follows my gaze to the sandy wind that blows around us. "They will. We dragons live so long that we come to lose sight of what made us begin on this path in the first place, but you humans... you are still so young and filled with hope. For a better world and a better life. They will accomplish their goals, and so will you".

I nod my head, feeling at peace not only in my heart, but also in my soul. Everything feels possible now, and it feels great. Is this because I finally left Orton? That place was the biggest barrier between my family and I, but now...

The world has become my playground. It's what it feels like to me in this moment.

The others stand behind us, appreciative of the gentle breeze we're offered. Then, when comes the time to head home, all except Jungkook shift into their dragon form, and once seated onto Jimin's scaly back, we're back into the sky.

Mother, father, Maite... I'm coming home.

Maite's POV

"You're selling this rubbish again?" the merchant before me sighs as he takes in the handcrafted figurines I did with loose wood I found in the forest a few weeks ago. It was no one's property, so I took it home to build things out of it, but as expected, people look down on me all the time.

"No one will want to buy that, young kid. Better head back home and learn how to be a good wife. You'll never make a living like this".

He throws the figurines on the ground at my feet, then immediately shows his best smile to the next customer here for some of his own goodies. None of them look my way, but they do purposefully push me back to take my place, as if I don't exist.

I stand still for a moment, dejected but also more committed to this than ever. My wood figurines are good quality and I know they're better than those you can find in the market here. The reason why they refuse to buy them is because I'm a girl. They won't take me seriously.

I kneel on the ground to pick them up and fit them back into my pouch, then leave the stall for another one. If I could sell at least five, I could buy a warm bread and some vegetables to bring home.

I've never met my older sister, but from as far as I can remember, I've always admired her. She left home and became a knight for us. All the money she earns is sent home so we can care for mother's illness and pay for food and clothes, and she never asks for anything in return.

I know she misses home, she mentions it in every single one of the letters she sends us. She always asks me about our parents, and in every replies I send her, I wish to soothe her concerns. Even if I need to cover the truth under small lies.

Father can only sell newspapers to the rich since he has only one hand left, and it doesn't pay much. Mother can't work, but she tries her best to keep us well-fed. As for me, I can't go to school, so the least I could do was learn a skill that could benefit our family.

I thought making those figurines with abandoned wood would help but...

I shake my head, then stand tall before showing them to another merchant. "I give you five of them for ten coins. Ten figurines for fifteen coins" I state, muscles coiled tight as I observe the older man intently.

He grabs one wooden figurine, then turns it around slowly, his glasses slipping down his nose as he looks closer. "You made these yourselves?" he asks with a gruff voice, almost unkind. I nod my head, and he hums before picking up another.

"Ten for twelve coins".

My eyes widen, and I quickly nod my head. Twelve can buy two breads! I could bring home enough potatoes and carrots to make a stew for days! "D-deal! Twelve coins for ten figurines. Thank you so much, sir" I blurt out as I shakily gather everything for him.

A small curl to the corner of his lip and he hands me the coins. "Come back to me if you make more. Now, shoo".

I bow lowly, then hurry to the other half of the market where they sell food, the coins tightly held in my grip and a large smile on my lips. I can't believe someone finally bought them! And he's willing to buy more!

Quickly, I buy the loaves of bread, the vegetables, heart preening that I can bring all this back home thanks to my own work for once. I can finally participate, which is all I've ever wanted. Seeing my family work so hard motivates me to do my best too.

I run through the streets, each of them more run down and dusty the further I go into the heart of the lower district. Y/N doesn't know that we couldn't keep the house she grew up in. It was too much money, and mother's medicine is so expensive, so we had to move here.

I think back to the handsome man who came home a few days ago, Sir Namjoon. Apparently, he's a dragon knight who knows my sister, and he gave mother a doctor, something that we never could afford until now. We don't even need to pay for her services, too. She's so kind.

She can't figure out mother's illness, though. She's tried a new treatment, so all we can do is wait, but I really hope it works. I would love for Y/N to come back home to our mother feeling a lot better.

Too lost in my thoughts to focus on the path before me, I suddenly run into a hard mass and bounce back on the ground, the food thrown out of my hold on impact.

My eyes open wide when I hear someone chuckle nearby, and when I see a group of scoundrels grabbing my hard earned money off the ground, I stumble to my feet before trying to grab the first thing I see, which is a small potato from one of the men.

A bread is ripped apart and shared amongst them as I manage to get back a lousy potato and carrot, all the while they get everything else with disgusting smirks. The odours that swirl around them are enough to make bile rise in my throat, but I stand my ground with shaky legs, even if they're twice my size.

"That's MY food! My money! Give it back" I demand with a glare, that was supposed to be food for my parents. We could've saved some money until Y/N comes home, and we could've given her a feast. My eyes blur as it hits me that my plan might have failed so soon.

"Your food? Yours? I bet you stole all that, kiddo" one of them croons grossly, before all of them laugh with wet bits of bread in their mouths. "Ain't no way you got enough money for all that on your own".

With trembling fingers, I grab the pouch containing the remaining figurines to show them the proof of my hard work. "You're wrong. I- I sold those for money. A merchant bought them and gave me the coins, I bought the food, I really did. Please, give it back" I plead weakly as I hit the arm holding the basket that carried the vegetables. "Give it back!"

"Step back, kiddo" the man groans before pushing me to the ground, only for another to grab the last figurines I had left.

They all assemble around to stare at what took me days to make. "You sold these things? A little girl like you?" they snicker. "That merchant was kind, there's no way he can sell that to anyone".

Another carrot and potato are thrown at my feet before they start walking away, leaving me with two of each. "Better give up now, kid. You can't change your life. Once you make it here, it's forever, whether you want to or not".

My bottom lip begins to wobble as I'm left alone, and I glance down at my arms to find blood spreading on my skin from my elbows and palms. I use my dirty sleeve to dry some of it, but it just keeps coming out in waves. It hurts.

If my sister was here, justice would've been served, I can't help but think as a sob builds in my throat. I grab the four vegetables, tears already falling down my cheeks as I resume my walk back home limping.

How do I hide this from mother? She can't know what just happened, it would break her heart. I feel like such a failure. If only I'd been more careful, if only I'd looked at the path I took. I could have avoided this.

Despite my wish to sneak in silently, there's no hiding from mother as she's always seated in a way that she can see who comes inside our small house. Her eyes widen when she sees me stumbling into the kitchen with tears and blood staining my skin, and her gasp has me clenching my jaw.

I quickly put everything on the counter before joining her so she doesn't have to stand.

I kneel at her knees, face tensed as I try to resist crying more at the touch of her frail fingers on my cheeks. "My baby, what happened to you?" she asks softly, eyes taking in all of me with panic in her blue eyes, eyes that I inherited, as I did her nose and lips.

A replica, father likes to say. I like to think that my sister could recognize me more easily that way.

I shake my head slowly, instead leaning my face into her gentle palms. "It's nothing, mother. I fell, that's all. I managed to sell a few figurines and bought some food. Not a lot, but it's at the very least something".

I don't have the heart to tell her that a group of thugs stole everything from me.

"Oh, my sweet girl" mother coos sweetly as she blows air on my tears before patting them dry with her thumbs. "Let's get those wounds cleaned up. Can you get the bucket of water and a clean tissue? I did some laundry earlier".

"Mother" I whine as I raise my head to look at her with a frown. "I told you that I would take care of it! You're in no state to do something so demanding. I wish you would listen to me. Y/N would be disappointed if she heard that I was letting you do so much around the house".

She sighs as she continues caressing my face. "Y/N would never be disappointed by you, Maite. You're her baby sister. I have two daughters who work so hard for their family, how am I meant to do nothing all day when you're all doing your best for me? I already feel better, anyway! The kind doctor's concoction makes my body hurt less, I can do at least the laundry".

I open my lips to counter her statement, but she hushes me and points towards the kitchen where a bucket of water rests. "The water and a clean tissue, Maite. And get me the fabric for the dress too, we need to bandage your wounds".

I grumble under my breath while listening to her requests. I can never say no to her for long enough. I wish she could listen to father and I too, she needs to rest if she wants to get better, otherwise she falls ill so easily.

Just as I'm about to grab the fabric in the bedroom, the ground beneath my feet begins to shake, a low thrum at first that quickly gains in strength. The decorations on the walls fall one after the next, glass breaking on impact.

"Mother?! What's going-"

"Maite-"

A deafening explosion makes it sound as if the sky is closing in on us, and in less than a second, a blast of heat sends the walls around me into pieces, bathing what remains in a sea of red, and thick dust hits me with such strength that I feel it dig into my skin.

I'm thrown to the ground like a rag doll, everything so loud that I can't even hear my own cry as the heat spreads everywhere - fire, I realize. It licks at every wood boards that made up the house, the roof now nowhere to be seen. Why is the sky burning?

I do my best to stand from the ashes that stick to me like sweat and run into the kitchen to find that the rest of the house is in the same state. "Mother!" I scream as I rush to where she was seated, parts of the walls forming a pile over her body.

I throw myself to the ground and try to push the heavy wood aside to free her as screams resound everywhere around us, so much panic and pain, yet all I can focus on is mother and her wheezes as the air becomes unbreathable.

"I'm going to free you, mother, we're getting out of here" I whimper as I break skin under sharp nails, nothing is moving and the fire is getting nearer. Are we going to die here?

"Maite" mother whispers as she grips my hand with more strength that she has in years, her clear blue eyes looking at me with desperation. "Maite, you need to go".

I shake my head. "No. I'm not leaving without you. What am I going to say to father and Y/N? That I left you here to save myself? No! We're getting out of here together, mother, I'm not leaving you alone" I insist, the blur of tears in my eyes keeping me from seeing anything but the blood that slides down her forehead.

"Maite! Judy!" father's voice shouts from nearby, and I desperately call out for him as I try harder.

"Father! Mother is stuck! Father!"

He jumps through a wall of thick smoke, eyes filling with panic when he sees us. He uses one arm to lift me off the floor, then pushes me towards where he came from with his only hand. He's got burns all over his body, yet I've never seen him so sharp and focused.

"Get out of here, Maite, I'll get your mother out of here, I promise. The path behind the house is clear, so you go and find the knights, tell them where we are and go somewhere safe. You can do that, can't you, Maite? Maite, look at me" he urges, and my eyes snap back from mother to him.

"You're useless here. Leave your mother to me and run. Run, Maite!" he insists harshly, hand pushing me again, and again, until I fall through the smoke and into the rubble that now makes up the street that I used to take so often for the flowers and trees that decorated it.

"Father, mother" I whimper as I hear another explosion shake the ground like it's about to split open. I want to help them, and it hurts the deepest part of me to know that to do so, I need to leave them behind. "I- I'll find help. I'll send help" I promise, only to startle when I hear a person run past me crying.

Another follows closely while entirely in fire, and their screams are so bloodcurdling that it gets me up and running as fast as possible in the blink of an eye. I bump into people, fall and stand again in the labyrinth of death, the smoke making it so hard to breathe and see. All I know is that people are dying and I just abandoned my parents.

Another explosion shakes the very air, and more rubble falls around me, as if trying to trap me where I am. "Y/N" I whimper out as I keep running, following someone only to take another path when they end up crushed under a brick wall. "Mother, father, I'm scared".

I look around me, all paths looking the same. Filled with limp bodies and destruction. I don't know where to go anymore, can't recognize the streets that I lived in for so long.

I notice the same men from earlier, a sob past my lips when most of them are obviously dead except for one whose head is the only thing poking out from the mountain of stone. Our eyes meet, and it's terrifying to see life run out so quickly.

I curl in on myself, lungs letting out wails that shake throughout my entire body. I choke and cough, the smoke everywhere the eye can see. I'm going to die here, just like everyone else.

"Y/N, save me... please".