He stopped by Joaquin's side and started asking questions, Joaquin ignored for as long as he could. It was about 2 more questions, but he tried, "just where do you think you're going?" He paused and stared down at the Idol Prince.
"I am going where you're going, what do you mean by that?" The Idol Prince answered with a light chuckle.
"And where am I going?" After saying this Joaquin turned his attention to the back where he saw that the other students had started following him too. "And what about them, did you beg me to save them so that you can try and get them killed again?"
The Idol Prince lowered his head unable to answer Joauqin's question he played with his fingers nervously. The pressure of having to look after a whole group of people and deliver them back to school in one piece was starting to fall on him. Even though he didn't know where Joaquin was going and what he was looking for, the air of mystery surrounding the whole statement called out for him.
As he started to think more and more about what to do his earlier decision returned to him in bits and pieces. Mostly blood spraying everywhere and his life flashing in his eyes so violently he faded out of existence for a few seconds. He raised his head and looked back at the students, about a handful of them ignored him and followed behind Joaquin.
Beipan came forward and grabbed the Idol Prince's wrist and pulled him forward along with him to follow Joaquin. He nodded to Luo and Luo again stopped Joaquin by grabbing his arm, this time Joaquin didn't need to say anything.
"What the hell do you people want now?"
"Can't you see we are walking here?"
"Or maybe you're trying to get us killed again."
"Yeah, you heard what Alder said earlier. If we head back less than half of us will make it out alive. Are you trying to use us as bait to save your young master?"
The few students who had decided to follow Joaquin started verbally attacking Luo until he embarrassingly let go of Joaquin's arm. Ains looked at them curiously but she couldn't say anything because she was currently stuffing her mouth full of dumplings.
"Hush now my near no minded brethren. How dare you try and say we are using as cannon fodder for our idol prince, aren't you the ones who persisted on coming here in the first place?" Beipan let go of the Idol Prince and walked forward, this time the smile he usually wore was MIA.
"What the hell are you saying you are the ones who told us to follow him in the first place? If it wasn't for you…"
"What would've happened if it wasn't for us?" Beipan let his qi drip out and it was so thick it covered him in a dark violet glow. People already knew that this colour represented a great talent in the creation type binaries. They lowered their heads in the face of the oppression.
"I specifically remember my young master asking to tag along in an adventure with someone you all despise. He never asked you to come along yet you followed and not only that but you complained the whole way. Now that you had a taste of danger you want to bad mouth him? How pathetic." After the horrifying statement he released his ability and went back to normal, he smiled and stretched his arms out.
"Come on don't give me those looks, aren't we all friends, brothers, and sisters?" He asked jokingly his dark brown hair covering his other eyes and fluttering all over. It was dyed, its natural colour was a light purple but he liked it this way. He could have gotten contacts and did the same for his eyes but it would limit his ability.
He was one of the better looking few, it was like a curse for those born into riches and fame to look desirable. His teeth reflected all light which is why he showed them off boldly from behind his sandy pinkish lips. His smile managed to calm down the students and they were now open to reason.
Beipan gave them a chance to protest and lay down their complains as they walked deeper into the forest to avoid losing Joaquin. He ignored them.
"Alder here told us if we go back very few people will survive. But you see, he never told us about going forward. And since his actions have already gotten four of us killed, don't you all think he owes us an explanation? What does he want from a forbidden area?"
Joaquin groaned and scratched his ear, this time the other students stayed quiet and didn't say anything at all. "I told you when before we left right? I am looking for a macguffin." Joaquin said as he slightly looked back and almost smiled.
"Oh," Beipan stumbled a bit and slowed down. "You know, the Idol Prince's most loyal guard Luo is the Grand Seat 1. If your statement is serious that means we are your enemies and as your enemies, you must be…" Beipan stopped and looked back at the Idol Prince and Luo.
Luo grew agitated and bolted forward. "ARE YOU TRYING TO TRAP US?" He tried to grab Joaquin's shoulder, Joaquin moved and Luo stumbled forward before he could stabilize himself Joaquin tripped him.
He slid his shoe under Luo and flicked him over, "you must still be weak from the swamp absorbing your energy. Insult me later when you can put up a decent fight." He said as he walked away.
The Idol Prince who was still sulking over his poor decision-making skills didn't even notice this happening. Beipan also passed by slowly and shot a bone-chilling smirk at Luo. Luo smiled and just dismissed it as Beipan trying to embarrass him.
In front of the students, the forest was coming to an end, and it wasn't leading into a field this time, it was leading to a cave.