"So, do you believe in magic?", Andrew asked as the now fixed caravan made its way through the darkness, the lamp throwing light onto the fading path ahead.

Evergreens melted into one another in the shadows around them, giving a ominous vibe as the bumpy and barely used road led them toward the Unknown Continent.
The horses were a bit hesitant to go on through the night especially toward the dangerous place, but Andrew had managed to coax them into it by offering an extra helping of apples in the morning.
So the two animals pulled through, but their ears swiveled around for any sign of danger as the two males talked.

"Huh? What do you mean by that exactly? It obviously exists... until, y'know, it supposedly didn't.", he replied looking up at the stars, "But it looks like it's back."

Andrew glanced at Set, "Yeah, that's what I don't get. Magic was supposed to be destroyed, gone forever when Varian did that incantation, yet you and Diverion used it."

"Who?"

Andrew heard Fidella snort and if he didn't know any better, he would've said it was directed at the teen next to him.

"Diverion, the guy you were trying to kill?", he reminded a bit annoyed, "The one we're tracking through his mask with your magic?"

"Oh yeah, him. I just call him demon kid in my head.", he remembered before looking at him offended, "But first off: don't compare me with a demon, man. Second: I already told you it's not magic, it's a spiritual energy I draw on."  Set then held up the mask, "Demon energy and my energy are two different things. Don't mix them up in the same bag."

He looked at the mask, "What exactly makes it different? Spiritual energy from normal magic? And how are you able to use it?
Better yet do you have any ideas how magic is being used at all?"

Set rolled his eyes, "I already told you it's kinda hard to explain and I already dumbed it down for you.
But basically, it's power I use from within, my aura, chi, soul... whatever term you want to use, and I channel it through myself using sacred arts that have been around for centuries. Once I can harness that inner light, I can use it for practical uses like exorcising demons.
Y'know, like the one I was supposed to take care of before Cassandra stopped me.", he jabbed at him before continuing, "But anyway, that's a little more explained dumbed down version for you. As for how magic is coming back or even being used, I have no idea. Has yours come back?"

Andrew looked at his palm and shook his head, returning it to the reigns along with his other hand, "No. I haven't had the smallest spark since Zhan Tiri was defeated..."

"You don't want it back do you?", the teen asked suspiciously.

"If I'm being honest, I don't and I kinda do. Even if it is dark magic, it was still helpful and it could do wonderful things. But then again, dark magic corrupts people over time, it's a constant risk to call on something like that and expect it to go well.
I would never want anyone using dark magic, especially myself... but it would be kinda nice knowing I had some power to help people with if I really needed it.
I know that might not make sense, or even be the right way to think, but at least you know the truth of how I feel.", he said quietly.

Andrew felt Set's eyes pierce into him as they sat there quietly for several minutes.

"Didn't you use to be part of a cult or something? I mean you learned dark magic from somewhere like that.",  Set finally asked looking intrigued, "Why would you want to help people? What made you change?"

He sighed, "I want to help people because I know it's wrong to hurt them mentally and physically; something the Separatists of Saporia have no trouble doing. Something I'm guilty of doing myself. That was never really me, even though I thought it was.
Back then, I was bitter and angry because my sister had been killed by a Coronian. I wanted revenge, I wanted to hurt them for what they did... so I joined the Separatists. I learned dark magic and I felt powerful and strong, I hurt several people with my ability.", Andrew felt disgusted with himself, "I've regretted it everyday of my life after I snapped out of it, but back then I didn't have a problem with it.
Anyway, I didn't really change until Cassandra came into the picture. She wasn't like anything I knew when I first met her... she was cold, cruel and pretty much bloodthirsty."

"So basically she scared you so bad you wet yourself and realized being evil isn't all that great?", Set interrupted looking bored, "Best romantic story ever."

"It isn't a romance story!", he corrected annoyed before continuing, "But yeah, she was just so insane and cruel that I realized what dark magic does to people. Like Chella... she was a complete maniac. I didn't want that for myself.
I didn't want to continue hurting people blindly when there was enough suffering already. So I changed. It was a steady change, but it was one I made without realizing it until I decided I was done with dark magic and it's control over others.
It was one I made as I did a couple of missions with her and realized how bad it all was. I wanted to help her be Cass again, not the monster she had become, but in order to do that I had to become a better person.
So I'm who I am now, a person with a lot of mistakes who's just trying to make up for them by doing the right thing for others. And teaching others not to go making stupid decisions like I did in the past."

"I don't know, man. Sounds like a romance story to me..."

Andrew inhaled, "Well it's not, alright? Not every close friendship has to result in kissing and cuddling.
Besides, she doesn't even like me that much, AND NOT the liking liking before you say something, I mean as a person. I came along 'cause she was about to head off by herself on this impossible quest and since I had been through it all when she was a psycho, she knew I'd be of good use to her. Which I wanted to be, and I was. Until of course we got ripped apart from each other hundreds of miles away by a teenager boy intent on murder."

The said teen boy didn't even look frazzled by that comment, "I was only doing my job Hubert, your wifey came along and ruined it so don't go throwing shade on me.", he replied cooly.

"Wifey?! What the heck is that...?", he blinked, "Oh my Demanitus, Set, she's not my wife either!!"

"But you do like her don't you? Maybe might even love her?", he asked looking at him, "Who would volunteer to help some lady on her demented mission to find a dead teen? Nobody that's who. Unless... unless you really got the hots for her.", he smirked.

"One: please do not say 'hots', it's extremely uncomfortable and awkward to me. Second: what language are you even speaking at this point? And third: I already told you I wanted to help her, that's it. I'm just making sure she's alright kid.", he said frustrated, "Can you please drop it."

He focused back on the road, trying to deny the feelings that he very much had. Having anything other then a mutual partnership was too much.

Cassandra didn't need his mess... even if she did let him tag along. Plus, they probably wouldn't even be happy together, not with the way they argued.

Crickets chirped in the background as he felt the teen scoot a little closer to him and pat his back.

"Sorry, man. Didn't mean to go into all that and get you worked up, but I can't help but notice you didn't deny it.
I know relationships are tough... but I'm here for ya'."
He was quiet for a moment before he added, "I can tell she means a lot to you though, she makes you want to be a better person. And there's nothing wrong with having those feelings. It's what you do with those feelings that matters.", Set told him before standing up on the seat and leaping onto the roof, "Just remember that."

Andrew turned to watch as he slid through the hatch into the caravan, probably heading to bed, leaving him all alone on the wooden bench.

That teen kept surprising him...
The cocky, nosy and obnoxious kid had a lot more to him.

His words seemed thoughtful and from a genuine place in his heart. They also seemed to speak from experience.

He shook his head, trying to figure out Set's history and maybe even his past from what he knew. Maybe he would ask him one day, once he felt they were close enough.

Andrew smiled thinking about how they had known each other for only a short period of time, yet already coming together somehow even if he was annoying.

He then heard Set climb up through the hatch and hop down beside him, holding a cup of some hot drink.

"Take this, we'll trade.", Set told him abruptly, taking the reigns from his hands and shoving the cup into him in one swift moment, "It's good. Trust me."

He looked down at the drink and tried to figure out what it was, after a few more moments of staring he then took a sip and smiled. "This is delicious! I've never had anything like this... what is it?", he asked taking another sip of the hot, vanilla-tasting drink.

"It's called Sahlab, it's like the vanilla version of hot chocolate with spices. My mom used to make it for me whenever I was upset.", he said his voice going quiet for a moment, "I thought you'd like it."

Andrew stopped and looked at him, "You alright kid?", he asked putting a hand on his shoulder gently.

Set nodded, "Yeah... just thinking about my mom. It's cool.", he half smiled as his hand went up to his face and touched the two lines scars running over his left eye. He didn't seem to realize his hand went up until his fingers pressed against the skin, which resulted in him putting his hand back down in a stiff rush.

Those scars had a story... and it has something to do with his mother Andrew concluded as he gazed at the teen.

Patting him gently, he took another sip and held the cup up, "Well, it's a very good recipe. This is the most delicious hot drink I've come across. Thanks for sharing."

"No problem.", he replied, "When your done I can make you some more if you like."

"That's very kind of you; are you going to have some?", he questioned, "It'd be nice if we could both enjoy it."

Set shook his head, "Nah, man. I'm good." Andrew then watched as he pulled out the mask from his bag before putting it back in, "We're going the right way for sure, we just need to get to the Unknown Continent and once we go over the border hopefully the signal will be stronger.
But if I'm right about my geography, we're going to have to go through some sketchy caves first before we do, just a heads up. So by the pace we're going we'll probably reach them by the afternoon if we continue all night."

Knowing he was changing the subject, Andrew decided to just go along with it. Hopefully the kid wouldn't emotionally hurt himself by moving on.
But maybe moving on for right now was for the best-

Andrew nodded, "Alright then, sounds like a plan. Once it's morning we all will get some quick rest and tackle the caves in daylight, I'm sure the caves won't be that hard."

"Actually, they're pretty tough. Also they're dangerous and said to be cursed... but it's the only way into the Unknown Continent.
I don't know if they are still cursed considering that goes into magic usually... but I do know that we shouldn't take anything for granted once we get closer to the border."

"At this point I'll just safely assume all magic has returned unless we get the lucky chance of not running into it.", he said tiredly, "But yeah, that makes sense... the closer we get to insanity the more insane things we run into."

Set smiled sheepishly, "Sorry, man. That's just the facts here... life wouldn't be interesting if it weren't hard."

"Does life not know we deal with enough as it is? I would like a break..."

"I think you need to go to bed.", the teen said pointing up at the hatch in the roof, "I'll keep first watch and I'll wake you up when it's your turn."

"What.. no. Andrew shook his head, "I'm the adult here, you need more rest then me. I'll be fine."

"Just GO.", he said punching his shoulder, "I promise you I'll be fine, there has been days I only get three hours of sleep and I'm kicking demon butt like I'm on twelve.
You on the other hand look like a man of Beauty sleep who does need twelve hours of rest plus you've had an emotional night, so move."

"But..."

"MOVE BUNNY SLIPPERS!!", Set demanded pointing up, "I know you got 'em so start hoppin'!"