The journey began exceptionally well; I reflect back to what happened after Nia made the coffin, since it is all I can do as the screams plague my mind.

The inside of the coffin is obviously empty, I expected it to be fill with soft cushions and a pillow to rest my head. But, I would have been more perplexed if it actually did come with cushions. Instead I use some of the red fur, from inside one the crates to make a soft, cushy interior. I thought the red went good with the black and offered a slick look. The wood on the box felt different than normal wood. For a start it feels hard, like iron, which made me a bit confident about sleeping inside it.

However, it made me curious about how much protection it could actually offer. I gave the coffin a good jab with my khopesh, twice. I wasn't able to pierce the wood. Just to make sure I did not have to worry about the sun. I went inside the coffin, pulling open its fancy dual doors.

I asked Nia to repeat whatever she did when she almost killed me. She seemed confused at first, but when I mentioned her mana expanding, she knew what I meant. I went back inside the coffin, I waited for minutes, and nothing happened.

“Did you start?” I ask Nia, not wanting to come out of the coffin to check. Nia giggles, and I can hear her small feet land on the top of the coffin.

“Of course it works silly Laoch.” She replied. And that was how I know the coffin protects me from the sun.

Some time passed before I wanted to get out of the crate, but It was still night. Isaac had once again tried to move the crates on his own. His arms are too short, and he was not able to stretch them around the crate to comfortably pick it up. Which is the main reason he had trouble lifting the crate up. I helped him with it eventually, because he looked like he would die soon if he tried any longer. Honestly, we should just leave these things here, they were of no value to us right now, maybe we could keep a few furs. I told Nia my thoughts and let her relay it too Isaac.

After helping with the crate, I choose to move my coffin. The coffin is light, despite its durability, and it fit perfectly in the crate. I had been worried it would either be too heavy to travel with, or too big to fit in the wagon. Isaac told me about trading the wine and the furs when we reach a town or city. I thought it was a good idea. I'd never given much thought to money, or what I could have done with it.

All four of the crates were packed on the cart, each one felt like lifting up a boar. Isaac took care of the horses, he would stroke their sides and talk to them like they were babies. They seem to like him fussing over, but I think it is the treats he feeds them that make him appear loveable. I came across many wild berries and carrots during my trek through the forest. It was plausible whatever he was feeding the horses was either of the two.

I wondered where my energy to do manual labor came from. I had no muscle and I obviously did not eat food. Did it mean that I'm constantly using mana just to move? Perhaps even when I'm not moving I consume mana? Would I have to kill every two or three days just to survive? I thought about it for a little while, and realized, that even when I was human I killed to survive. Maybe not directly, but as a whole species the demand for meat and animal products outnumbered the amount of actual humans. And I helped support that demand, so I do not mind killing for food.

Isaac knowledge seemed to have a key focus on survival in the wild and economics. The boy looks as if he is capable with horses. Isaac took the reins after we climbed onto the wagon. A kid driving a wagon whole day did not make my mood any better, despite not having any choice. The horses, while not outright running from me, kept their distance. Nia would be with him while I rest in the coffin, which eased my mind about leaving him alone. I could have only hoped that she was more responsible. Isaac is also unsurprising able to control the horses.

You could not drive a wagon like this in the dark back on Earth. I suppose two moons must be good for something. I sat in front with Isaac. and watched as we finally escaped the trappings of the forest. The wind coming from the wide open plain before us caused my cloak to ripple. I looked back into the tracks that we came from, and watched the north and south road, both roads were as far reaching as my vision. I could tell this was going to be a long journey.

We were two days into our voyage; I had slept in the coffin during the day, at night I had gone off, to explore the area. I talked several times with Nia, curious about why she should want to follow me. I never got any straight answers, and most times I got none. Her question game infuriated me, but her company was pleasant.

I had little to no interaction with Isaac, it felt odd not being able to talk still. I did not want to have to rely on Nia all the time just to send messages to him. It was hurting my morale. I was still curious what happened before with the bandits, since some things just did not add up.

I caught two rabbits and skinned them on the last night. I avoided consuming their souls. I do not know where my memories of cooking rabbits came from, it may be better to say who it came from, but it was obvious they were not that good at cooking, since most of it went uneaten by the boy.

I thought that this is how it would have been until we reach wherever he is going. That is when the screaming started, and it was during the day. I could hear the screams coming from the boy, as I lay within my coffin along with the loud, gurgling laughs. I have heard many screams since I came to this world, but hearing the scream of Isaac made me upset. I had little care for the boy, but I wasted time and energy saving him, and someone is going to die if he is hurt.

I am content with the silence that follows after; it made my anger ebb away and gave rise to the curiosity inside me. I am not sure when it turned night, so I place my hands on the coffin and wait till it went from warm to cool. I push the coffin open and relish in the chill air, and the starry night sky. I have never been so jovial to greeted by the night. I pull myself up from the coffin. I take my time and observe my surroundings.

The seat in front of the wagon is deserted, the boy is gone. The wine is also gone, but the furs remain inside the crate. The horses are no longer here as well, I think that pissed me off the most. I could still travel without the boy, but without the horses it would be a slow walk. I look around for Nia, and I spot her sitting on the edge of one of the crates. She has her head up, looking at the sky, while swinging her legs as she hums a song.

“Where’s the boy? And don’t tell me it’s not my turn.” I said, sending me thoughts to her like a sudden raging storm on a calm day. It would be an understatement to say that I am angry. My voice must have been like a whip through our telepathy because she looked up at me instantly.

“Big ugly creatures came, they took him and went into the forest.” Nia said. Her hands open wide to express how large the monsters are. I doubt they were so small.

“Why did you not kill them?” Her words cause my patience to slowly drain. I had no great care for the boy, but we would not get very far with just a wagon.

“Kill them?”

“Yes kill! Hurt, stop, anything!”

“Fairies can’t hurt anything Laoch.” Nia said. I pick up one of the crates and toss it off the crate. The crate splits and shatters on impact. I could not stand it anymore, I just needed something to vent my anger. What did she mean, fairies could not hurt anything? Why am I now knowing about this?

“Now you tell me! That would be good damn information to know.” I shout my thoughts to her. Her expression did not change at all. She was not concerned, or angry or sorry, just that smile and that childlike wonder of the world. She looks at me as if to figure out what I am angry at.

“ I didn’t want you to get-”

“ To get angry! Well look what that did!” I jump off the wagon and kick the pieces of the broken crate. I try to calm myself, I do not care about the boy, I keep telling myself. I already saved him once, I should not have to do it twice. A fairy could not drive a wagon, and I was too interested in this Spire of Vatra the boy had talked about. A school for mages? Think of the things I could learn. No I had to retrieve the boy, he could become a great asset. My head hurt slightly, as the human and skeleton in me war over what I should do.

“I’m sorry okay! I know where they are. I can take you there.” Nia finally said, I am not going to forgive her anytime soon. What else is she keeping from me? At least she could help in a small way. Nia flew up and into the trees to the right of the wagon, I follow after her briskly.

The trees here are no longer the tall like the ones I have been used to seeing back at the camp, and around the cave. Using my mana vision, I can easily follow the fairy. She glows a bright golden color, and she even made her glow blink. I am curious how she manipulated her mana like that. I now know for sure that she knows I can see mana, despite the fact that I never mentioned it to her.

Despite her efforts to help, I did not need it track the large footprint impressions on the ground. The tracks are huge, and deformed. Whatever I am about to murder, would certainly put up a fight. I made sure my khopesh was in good order. I draw it slowly from my sheath as it dangles from my sword belt. I crouch as I follow the blinking Nia deeper into the forest. The trees here have low branches and tree trunks are all over.

The trees are grey, which makes them look dead, especially since they have no leafs. The area has very little to no amount of grass, and the earth below my feet became progressively cracked and dry. The area is filled with insects, mainly flies, that I can see with my mana vision. I start to encounter the bones of dead animals, and some of the bones were from humans. I finally found the footprints of the horses, and I feel better knowing they are alive.

The number of broken branches and uprooted trees convince me that I am getting closer to whatever kidnapped the boy. I watch as Nia finally stops, she flies off quickly to hide behind a tree branch. I use her example and moved closer to hide behind one of the trees. The tree is wide, and I am thin enough to hide behind it completely.

I move closer to one side of the tree, so I can look around it. I am disgusted by the ten feet tall creatures, with grey skin. They have fat lumpy human heads, and enormous stomachs. They held broken branches in their hands as weapons. I count a total of four of the creatures. All of them are around an iron pot, that is lit by numerous amount of dry twigs. The pot is taller than any man in height, and black. Above the pot is Isaac, tied to another man. They are bot suspended by a rope attached to branch above the pot.

The creatures are whispering to themselves, and I occasionally hear laughter. One of them uses a long branch to steer the boiling pot, while another is throwing in bits of grass, bones, a human skull, and other ingredients I did not recognize. I also spot the two horses, they are in a fenced off area around a tree. I did not spot the wine barrels.

“Oooooohhh, It’s going to be a feast tonight my sons!” The one that is steering the pot shouted, making the other three cheer.