Andrew dashed forward at the beast at max speed. He boosted himself through the air with magic as an electrical surge started forming in his hand. The beast also started running at him. The two figures clashed mid-air as they let out a thunderous roar before they both collapsed on the ground.

Andrew's shirt was torn in half as his torso started bleeding. His attack had cut through the beast's body with speed and accuracy, but the beast wasn't about to go down alone. He tiredly stood up and started slowly walking towards the beast.

The beast lay motionless on the ground like a dead body. It was going to die shortly after anyway. But Andrew walked towards it before conjuring a small lightning spark and finished the job. Right before the beast died, Andrew was able to see a saddened proudness in its eyes, as if it was somewhat honoured to be killed by Andrew.

"Rest in peace," Andrew said as he ended the beast's misery, "You fought bravely."

"Is... Is it dead?" Andrew suddenly heard a voice.

It was the young elven girl in the carriage, still terrified of the beast.

"It's dead," Andrew nodded.

The girl stared at Andrew appreciatively before she started cracking into tears as she asked him: "Where is Sir Pippen?"

"Uncle Otto?" Andrew asked.

"He..." the girl sobbed, "He asked my parents to let him take me to see Auntie Addilyn. Where... Where is he?"

Andrew looked at the elven leader's body lying still on the ground, "Who was he to you?"

"He is... He's my friend," the girl said.

"I see," Andrew said as he walked towards the girl, "Listen... uh, what's your name?"

"Elizabeth," the girl replied, "But my parents call me Eliza."

"Alright, Eliza," Andrew continued, "Pippen is in a better place now. He had to fight off bad men but now he gets to go to a better place to rest."

"Real... Really?" Eliza asked shyly.

Andrew nodded, "My name's Andrew."

"Eliza," she said softly.

"Yeah," Andrew grinned, "I figured. Hey, Eliza, do you want to get out of here?"

"I... I guess," Eliza replied as Andrew helped her off of the carriage as they began their adventure together.

Within the following days, Andrew and Eliza just travelled through the cold and dark spruce forest. Andrew would climb onto trees for easier travel and access, but since Eliza couldn't use magic, they had to travel by foot.

Andrew had recovered many supplies from the carriage, namely multiple clean pieces of clothing and small weapons that they could use to protect themselves. With these supplies, they were able to survive for at least a few extra weeks before they really fall into danger. Eliza had already offered to take Andrew to her home inside the forests, so Andrew was confident that they could survive until then.

Despite survival being difficult, Andrew had a wide range of skills he had from his time training with Tameka. They would salvage any source of foods that they could find: wild berries, various types of fish and wild animals. One of the easiest food sources that they could find were bunnies running in the wild, which had an unexplained yet irresistible bond with Eliza, and despite Andrew's protests, they were left alive simply because Eliza had a soft spot for cute animals.

In the morning, Andrew and Eliza would walk through the forest with their basic shoes made out of raw leather collected from fox hides while they talk about Eliza's home. Eliza was enthusiastic and cheerful: sharing details of her beautiful childhood home and how she was so excited to return, as well as impressing Andrew with her way around wild animals.

At night, they would set up a tent poorly made from torn fabric pieces sewn together clumsily for Eliza to sleep inside while Andrew sat outside and guarded.

Although Andrew definitely enjoyed Eliza's company on his travels, at night, he felt at peace. He stared at the glimmering beautiful stars in the pitch-black sky. Sometimes the night would even lose its colour black and inherit a beautiful and mystical green-blue colour.

At night, it was absolute silence. There were no sounds of wild animals rampaging around in the forest, no Eliza's voice going on and on for hours about her parents and how great and nice and decent they were or even the annoying bunnies that were always following Eliza around that Andrew just wanted to make some rabbit stew out of.

"An... Andy?" Eliza suddenly said in the middle of the night.

"Y... Yeah?" Andrew said sleepily, having gotten woken up by Eliza.

"Are you tired?" she asked shyly.

"Uh... I guess?" Andrew replied lazily, wanting to go back to sleep.

"If... If you want to rest, I can stand guard," Eliza offered, "You've been guarding me for all this time, and... I just wanna give you a hand whenever possible."

Andrew stared at Eliza silently before cracking a smile, "I guess I have been huh?" he put his hand on Eliza's head, playing with her beautiful white hair.

"Hey!" she protested, clearly annoyed, but in a caring way.

"You go to sleep, Eliza," Andrew smiled, "I'll protect you. Just rest."

Eliza's cheeks turned pink as she covered her face and got back into the tent, "Al... Alright then. Just... try to get some rest."

Andrew nodded, "I know," as he smiled.

He sat back, popping open a canteen of water as Eliza drifted off to sleep. He could feel the darkness again. It was calling him.

He opened his hand as the leaves on the ground started rattling. Andrew sighed as he closed his eyes and tried to rest.

I'll be coming back for you, Tameka, he said to himself before falling into a relaxing sleep.