Warriors of light cuaght in a dark world.

Be didnt seem worried about that at all. He seemed calmer amd at peace. Things would get better. He knew that. Inside he was serene he had a general idea of what they needed to do and he had found out that they needed to cross the sea to reach a kingdom with a floating island as its capital. He was explaining it ro her saying the kingdom had the original blueprint of tbe first sword of light. He knew it he could look for it she might learn how to make it and the fights would ne more even against the demon lord amd his minions.

"You honestly believe that is the best choice of action? What of the-"

"Even if the demon lord and his minions got to us, that weapon will protect us. Even you. All through your life you suffered enough Maggie and I only want nothing but your safety. Besides, the blueprints might help you in learning to forge it." he said but she looks to the bed then up at the window. True, she's read rumors of the sword but that was it. Nothing else seems to be wrong about it but that leaves her guessing again. Maybe she was wrong? No, that's not it. She wanted to do everything in her power to help Andrew. No matter the cost.

"..If you really think this is the right direction, then I'm with you."

"Thank you Maggie. Now, you need more rest. I'm right here if you need anything." he said still holding her but she gives a light nod, understanding. She didn't mind though but Maggie was still tired cuddling up more against his chest. He was so warm and it made her blush slightly.

"Hey maggie. I probably shoulnt ask, but, well...even if you arent feeling dark feelkngs. Could you... ever do thies things with me again?" He qurstion had been lingering on his mind aince they were cleaning up and he hadnt asked because he didnt want to seem greedy. She looked at him thoughtfuoly blushing as her mind turned to consider her answer. She looked at him and bkushed more as she nodded.

The releif that swept over him was visible he shivered and hugs her close in a tight embrace "then. Even if you dont have a dark urge i will be ready for you." He said and hekisses her forehead.

She wanted to help him and the spirit of light was looking away from them. It was working to swnd thir identities to those who could help and mark their path in ways only he could see. Margeret was a little worried because she knew that the demon lord was se dng his stronger monsters ojt to look for her and she knew it was setting up ambushes near the places they needed to go.

He seemed to know that already because when she mentioned it he laughed and kissed her hand. "Its hiw it always is. They know what it takes to defeat thek thats why it always seems there are bosses right where we beed to be. Of course it never tells the monsters that. " he laughed again thunking that the whole thing was a wild adventure waiting to be completed.

"Andrew.. how can you laugh at such a thing?" She asks wishing ti kniw where hjs courage comes from.

"Because. Ive done this before. Demon lords are all the same in hkw thy act but different in everything else. They are predictable. So are monsters. Unless i see one ive never met im rarely surprised or caught off guard. " then he whispers in her ear... "except for you my guard is always down arou d you." He said it meaning to tell her he trusted her.

"M..Me?" She points at herself but he only looks to give a light nod of his answer. Never in his life as he lowered his guard. Due to the monsters and demon lords that roam this world. But with Margeret. She was the only one that was able to have him lower it. Knowing the possible outcome either way. She looks away unsure of the answer but he only shook his head while looking silent.

"........"

"You really are unlike anyone I've seen in my life and you know what, that is just fine." he laughed touching her cheek that she blushes again looking away from him.

"T..thanks.."

"You are very welcome...*Kisses her cheek..*" he smiled looking to her but he thinks of what she said then scratches his cheek. "However, this means things will be alright..."

"...Hmmm? You mean fighting through the war of monsters?"

"Yes. Either way; that shouldn't stop us. For now, we can work together to fight through them. To stop the demon lord and his so called followers." he said.

".......I understand. I just hope we will get through it either way. I want to help as much as possible so you will have me by your side, Andrew." she said looking down but he gives a nod after a while. After some time, they were done and eating a light snack together thinking of a new plan together that will work with fighting whatever else came their way.

"I will glady have you by my side. The army is defeated but their boss remains. He wont stop sending his monsters out. I highly suspect the stronge rones are starting ti appear all over." He said and she blushes at what he said to her request.

Together they leave the castle and start their journey anew. They sat closer together and shw even leaned on him. The magic forge was upgraded to require no pre heating to make metal bars and all she had to do was focus her will on the materials to make what she wanted with a single stroke.

She comolained about it taking most of the work and enjoyment out but it was less difficult or time consuming to forge something now. As they ride on she reforged their armor to resize and make it stronger. She used the same armor and bits of ore to do so and it took shape like magic. She reforeged the shield and sword she made for him and he rown equipment increasing their defensive value whike making them lighter.

After her new forging escapade she and he stsrt off down the draw bridge. Their horse was now a fearless animal. It had faced pure evil and survived. That gave it some standing with other horsed and improved its pedigree tremendously. Horses would stop and bow their heads as it pranced down the road giving their respect. Thwir wagon didmt rattle as much since it was repaird and reinforced and as they travel thrpugh the wartorn landscape she saw the evidence of his onslaught against the monster horde. Most of his path was glassed from the extremem heat that he walked on and she could see some of the collateral damage made by his powerful sword strokes.

She remembers how he looked lime an avenging angel when he save dher and then she remembers how reckless he was. That seemed to change. A sshe looked at him now she saw he was more careful and definitly more obvious aboit how alert he was and she knew he would keep her safe.

It made her wonder what else she can figure something else. Maybe she will during this journey down the road. Knowing the possible out keep of it. She started remaining silent about it as they kept heading on their way. Andrew kept his eyes on the road but he only looks more quiet while trying to figure out what else could be waiting for them.

The destroyed road that they followed wound and weaved across the battle scarred landscape. They were heading past the empty fortress towards an unknown land. Forever the pathways to this land were cut off from people by the armies of monsters that would swarm any force that attempted to go there. The corrupted land ended only a mile from a chasm and fresh beautiful land was beyond. The chasm was crossed by a marble bridge and as thwy reach the end of thw battlefied they both notice that time had no effect past the chasm. Cut off from mankind this land was untouched by time.

Ancient beasts similar to monsters roamed. They watched as retillian dinosaurs and massive mammals lived together in harmony. There was no need for the demon lord to take over this area. There were no men. There were no forces to challenge him. Only beasts to catpure and breed to become monsters.

That couldnt be right and the wagon clattered on thw brick road that was set into the marble bridge. Ther ehad to be some people on the other side because someone had a reason to build the bridge. Its statues were all faded or broken from extreme neglect and the bricks were crscked and mismatched as of repairs wrre done and poorly so.

She felt uneasy seeing this but she only remain silent after some time. He wasn't sure why either but it didn't feel right after so long. For now, both Andrew and Maggie remain quiet heading to their destination. She looks ahead still not saying a word that Andrew keeps his guard up.

The natural animals and beasts left them alone but the mknsters watch them with evil stares. The two keep going avoiding a fight following what use dto be a road. The whole day passed witbout incident as the road winds and curves following a river that seemed to flow from the northwest. Netiehr of them coukd see its source, a floating city. All they knew was there was a lake ahead nd the river seemed to fkow fron the sky above it.

Confused he stops the wagon at rhe shore of the lake and begins to set up camp.

For a while, he was setting up much of the camp while seeing Margret setting up camp for them with a small camp fire as well. For a while, she was remaining silent after some time but she only remains quiet looking at the main flames burning. She keeps her eyes gazing upon the burning flames but huddles close. Even from this place only made her remain silent.

".................."

He did take a look over to see her not saying anything but wonders if Maggie was alright. Andrew takes a walk over after finishing and sits by her seeing how she was just gazing into the flames ahead of her. "Maggie? You okay?"

"Yeah...I'm alright...." she mutters quietly to him.

As the night drew close around them a chill swept the land. Sje huddles next to the fire while he finishes setting up camp then he sits next to her. Sje didnt like rhis place it felt too dangerous. She leans on him and blushes red as she remembers how heated he gets near her.

He blushes from her closeness and tends the fire with a stick. When it burns low he would stir the coals and put another log on. He felt he had to keep in up necuad eof how cold it seemed at night here. Pressing close to him she felt a small heat inside and remembered what he said to her.

It was comforting knowing he loved her and would do anything for her and being next to a waem fire with him mad eher feel safe even in this unknown and dangerous land.

They didn't say anything during this time but only leaves her silent for some time. He already wonders what was going on that he was thinking about it. He already was muttering about it while seeing nothing else going on. He saw that the fire kept burning slowly without nothing else going around them. Maggie keeps close but she didn't say anything else watching the flames dancing in her eyes.

"....................."

"..................."

"Hey maggie... what are you thinking about?" He said finally as he started using the bigger logs. "If youre worried you can tell me and maybe i can put them at ease" he said softly and watches her eyes.

"As I said; I don't like this place. It's scary...but other than that, I'm fine." she mutters quietly to him but didn't say anything else later on. This made her silent after some time but it only remained quiet after some time. He just grew more worried now while looking down at the floor. She sees the flame burning the bigger logs but it just made her look more silent.

"I..I see.."

"......*Quiet* Just don't worry about it. Things are fine..It's nothing.." she mutters looking into the flames again being quiet. She still hated this place wishing to leave but it seems she'll have to suck it up for now. Hoping things will pass along for now.

"What kind of place dontou want to do to?" He asks and she gave him a hard look. "An inn. I dont feel safe outside alright. Too much can happen and i cant sleep. " she said it a bit harshly but he asked.

"Oooh. An inn. Okay buutt... ibe never been here so i dont know where an inn is yet. If youw ant i can stay up all knight and keep watch im sure if we follow the main road here we will find a town tomorrow. She didnt like to hear that and turns away back to the fire as he looks at her.

"I cant let u stay up all night.." she said looking down and he thought about it. She looked at him again as his face went blank amd he went into his head to think about something. She saw this look before when he was making a guess or trying to decide.

"Alright. Since neither of us can sleep and you dont like this place. Lets keep going until we reach a place you like. We might meet some monsters on the way thats why i dont travel at night. In the daytime they usually avoid roads." He said and she looked up at him. He was serious and scra5ching his head to think about a map he saw maybe once or twice. He never got a map from any of th3 castles and seemed to rely on one he saw as a kid.

She didn't say anything during that time but he only looked quiet. Maggie wanted to get out of here but Andrew was worried she might be angry right now due to this place. He just remained quiet while traveling through the area. The night only makes her more nervous being out here that she grips her pants legs wanting to get out.

"Maggie. If i mau ask where is it you do want to be. Just day so and i can teleport us anuwhere weve been thats closest to whee you want to go." He said and looked at her as he drove the wagon onward.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore...just keep going.." she mutters rubbing her arms slowly looking down at her legs seeing that the wagon still kept moving. He didn't know what to say else but notices that Maggie seems a bit down now. She didn't want to be a pest but made it sound like she was. Andrew remained silent but looks ahead remaining quiet.

He pulled the reigns stopping. "No. Maggie if something is wrong we need to talk about it. Ypu havent talked about it youve just moped and looked depressed. Ivr been patient but youve still not said." He seemed to be a little stressed in unfamiliar territory and he knew she didnt like it here. He was trying to get her to tell him where sbe wanted to go so theu could go together but she wasnt saying

"As I said I don't want to talk about it. Just something stupid in my head alright so can you please keep going? I want to get out of here.." She looks silent not saying anything but she only remains quiet feeling annoyed now. Andrew wanted to help her in every way possible but he seems that she didn't want to talk about it. This was unlike her but he only lets out a sigh again.

"Maggie please. You know I'll do everything in my power to help you but I can't help you if you don't open up to me." he looks at her as Margret looks down at her lap hugging herself tightly. He wanted to help her but she only lets out a sigh.

"........"

"Well? Are you going to open up to me? Or are you going to ignore me.."

"...I said I don't want to talk about it. I want to leave from this place so can you just go?!..Please.." she looks away from him but Andrew looks ahead gripping the reigns as the horses clop their hooves against the ground.

"Well, till you tell me. I'm not going to move. I want to know where you want to go because we can't just stay out here all night. So, I'll ask again; where do you want to-"

"You know what fine!.." She stood up to get off the wagon but looks at a bag near the side.

"Hey, where are you going!?" Andrew sees her putting the bag over her shoulder.

"If you won't move then I'll just walk. You can stay out here if you like but I want to keep going.." she grumbles while walking away from the wagon.

"Maggie, it's dangerous to do that! come back!" he had the horse follow her but she kept walking. In a couple minutes, he was following behind her trying to get her back on the wagon but she didn't say anything walking forward while rubbing her arms keeping warm.

He pulled up and stopped the wagon in fromt of her. "Listen gry back in yhe cart we cant get seperated thats when the monsters will make their move. " he said resching oit to her. "Ill keep goimg but you have to talk to me. It could actually be important." He said as she stopped to cinsider him.

"As I said; it's nothing that important. Now, will you just drop this before I start getting pissed off?" she didn't want to talk about it anymore but Andrew wanted her to. If she was holding it back like this that wasn't good for her. He needed Margret to open up for him. At least tell him what was wrong.

"....Maggie please."

"...................." she didn't say anything after a while before she lets out a sigh. All Maggie did was get on the cart but remained quiet till then. At least she got back on the cart as he begins moving forward again.

"Now will you please answer my questions? It would be nice to know whats on your mind once in a while especially when you are itching to travel. " he said plaintivly wanting to hear her so he could help. If she wanted somewhere to go he would go with her. If not then what was bothering her.

"As I said I just want to get out of these woods. That's it." she hissed looking ahead.

Well okay but if im right well come out soon there should be some sort of village close by. " he said and neither of then slept for the rest of fhe night. They saw monsters but none attacked. They just watched. She wonders how he knew if he had never been here before. Slowly thw trees thinned and approaching dawn they came out of the trees and a lake streched out infront of them. There was a town streched around the lake ending at the woods. It was a human village but no one there was just a townsman even the children were strong and had basic equipment.

As they were approaching the edge she saw the children training with eachother. She saw a class about fighting local monsters and then after the sun was getting higher in the sky she sees the sign for an inn. They desperatly needed sleep and they knew they could rest easy here. He looked around like he knew the place and she asked him about it. He told her he had come here when he was first summoned and that this whole village protects a harvest they take to sell. And that it was that harvest that brought them together since he was in that city when it was under seige to sell the harvest for this town.

Looking around she noticed that he was being trwated like he didnt exist as if he was an outcast.