Andrew painted the wooden boards with waterproof coating as Cassandra tested the inside of the broken down caravan.

"How's it in there?", Andrew called leaning backward to try to see her inside.

He heard Cassandra's boots walking in the creaky planks, "Dusty, dirty, old, smelly, moldy in the corner here, pretty sure there's a dead rat... wait, hold that.", she paused, "Yeah okay, it's dead, I thought it was alive."

He sighed, "Is that all?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, there's a big hole in the floor right in the middle of the main area.", she called back her voice laced with aggravation, "Why did you buy this piece of junk?"

"First you yell at me about groceries and now the place we're living? Can I not ever please you Cassandra?"

He waited for a response and after he moment he got it as Cassandra swore under her breath and marched outside.

"Yesterday was rough for me... don't push it.", Cass warned taking the paintbrush out of his hand, "Also how do you expect this to be up and ready by the end of the day? It's practically falling apart."

He took the brush back gently, "With that attitude I promise you this won't be ready by nightfall."

Andrew felt her piercing eyes glaring into his skull as he continued to paint away.

He then shook his head and smiled, "If you want this to be done why don't you help fix up the inside? No one better then you to make sure it's up to your own standers."

Cassandra crossed her arms and looked up at the old caravan, "I never really wanted to travel this way Andrew... I wanted to travel my own way."

He stopped and looked at her.

Putting down the brush he raised an eyebrow, "Well, what did you have in mind? The caravan seems to be the most efficient way if you ask me, especially for long trips like this.
"You're going to need more then just a tent and a fire to keep you warm Cassandra."

"Or you just refuse to do anything other then glamping."

"Glamping?", he repeated, "What the heck is glamping? I'm pretty sure that even isn't a word."

Cass rolled her eyes, "Glam camping you dumbbell."

Andrew shook his head, "I'm fine with tents and a... errr, more rugged approach if you want it, but I can't just let you do this whole trip with little or no decent shelter for over a month!"

"Okay mother.", Cass huffed, "But I think we can do just fine without it! The lighter the load the more we can travel and the more ground we can cover.
"That's what more important, this is about finding Varian.", she retorted.

Andrew kneaded his forehead between his eyes in frustration, "Listen Cass, that's great and all I can see your way of thinking, but has it ever occurred to you-?"

"What?", she interrupted her voice snappy and even.

"Has it ever occurred to you...", Andrew resumed taking a deep breath, "... like how and where we are even going to start looking for someone who's supposed to be dead?"

Cassandra opened her mouth before closing it, her face filled with confusion and anger.

"Yeah, so we should probably have this with us. It's gonna take a while to figure these things out.", he reasoned resuming his painting.

"You know what?", Cassandra finally said, "You're a freaking buzzkill. I don't even think Fitzherbert would have said something like that."

"Sorry if you don't like it, but it's true. And hey, it's alright if you don't know where to start looking.", he said ignoring her swearing as she started to hack her sword against a tree, "What matters is you're trying and at the very least we know he isn't in Corona, Harmony Glen or this run down village.", he continued.

"How could I have missed that!!! How am I supposed to search the whole world for Varian?!?", Cass yelled angrily, "And Hubert, why do you have to be such a b-!!", her voice cut off short as Andrew tuned her out.

"Obviously she's having some difficulties...", he muttered as he finished applying the paint.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as she kicked the dirt in frustration, a brown cloud flying into the air.

Sighing, he picked up some more supplies and started cleaning and restoring the inside while Cass let out her steam.

He didn't like seeing her like this.

She had never really been the same since she had been possessed and used by the demons.

It was understandable, dark magic and possession had affects that could last years, but it didn't change the fact that Cassandra wasn't like her old self.

She usually thought things through and when she got mad, she never ran away from the problem, she confronted it.

Now she was the exact opposite.

Andrew hoped that it was just because of stress that she was like this. Finding Varian had probably clouded her judgment and strength.

Also he knew she was beating herself up for all she had done.

Her being edgy with him was to be expected... he said just hoped as some time passed it would be easier.

Andrew put in the last wooden board into the floor, nailing it in and finishing the inside of the caravan.

He stood up and looked at the place as he took a deep breath.

Fresh clean wood filled the air as he smiled and dusted off his hands. Finally the caravan was suitable for living in.

He looked out the window and saw Cassandra was finally worn out as several trees bore witness to her anger and disappointment.

After making a sandwich, Andrew brought it out over to her and stood behind her as she sat on the ground.

Her chest was heaving as she breathed heavily and her sword was stabbed into the ground beside her.

"... hey.", he said quietly drawing her attention.

"What do you want.", Cass breathed turning to look at him her eyes weary, "Are you here to remind me of my impossible task? How I didn't think things through?? How I have no idea what I'm doing and I need to stop hating myself because of it??
"Cause if you are I don't want or need to hear it."

"I was just trying to bring you some food, it's late.", he responded holding out the plate, "That's all."

Cassandra's features relaxed slightly, but only slightly.

Taking the offered food she bit into it hungrily, "Thanks I guess.", she muttered as Andrew stood there watching her for a moment.

Suddenly he remembered something, something that might help.

"I have an idea...", Andrew started hesitantly, "But I don't know if you're going to like it."

"What is it?", Cass immediately asked standing up, "Just tell me."

"Back when I was in the Separatists of Saporia, I learned a lot about dark magic, artifacts and mythical legends.
"I remember reading about an artifact that could help us, but it not sure if it even existed or still exists at all.", he paused but Cass was still listening intently.

"Yeah, go on."

He took a deep breath, "This artifact could supposedly bring back the dead...", he said slowly, "Very dark magic, even Chella considered it evil. She said the dead should stay dead and bringing one back would result in evil consequences...
"I thought you would like to know that there is that, if you really are determined to bring Varian back.", Andrew said already regretting telling her this.

Why had he?

What gave him the urge to tell Cassandra about something like that?!

He looked at her as she was real quiet as she then balled up her fists, "Varian isn't dead, he can't be.", she said her voice strong and hard, "And I don't appreciate you implying he is."

"Well..."

"Well nothing! Why would you even bring that artifact up?! Have you lost your mind?", she said angrily, "Even... even if Varian were dead... I-I wouldn't bring him back with dark magic!!!"

"It was just to let you know..."

"Stop!! Just stop Hubert! Why is it every time you do something helpful or good you always mess it up!"

Andrew backed up, "I don't know... I just remembered that I had read about it in my magic studies. And you're determined to get Varian back..."

Cassandra held up her hand, "I'm finding him... I don't know what I'll do if he's actually... if he's... d-dead...
"The thing is, I'm finding him if it's literally the last thing I ever do, but I know Varian would never forgive me if I brought him back with black magic. He would probably end up committing suicide..."

"He doesn't seem to be the type who'd do something like that.", Andrew put in trying to comfort her.

Her voice shook as her bottom lip trembled uncontrollably as she took a deep breath in, "Besides... I figured out one way to start off in a productive search anyway."

He smiled cautiously, "That's good, right?"

Cassandra snorted, "Of course it is. I figured we can visit the Spire and ask for help. There has to be some magic compass or something."

"The Spire? Like that tower with all the artifacts and things?", he questioned crossing his arms, "I thought it was long lost to the age of time."

"Maybe that's what they wanted you to think.", she smirked, "Because you know, I can't think of any reason at all they wouldn't want dark sorcerers knowing about powerful ancient artifacts that they could use to destroy everyone."

"Haha, very funny...", he said shaking his head, "So where is the Spire then and how far away is it?"

Cassandra sighed, "It took like three months to get there. Too long if you ask me, but we'll have to try our best with what we've got."

He smiled, "Three months huh? With a caravan am I right?"

"Yeah, which you insisted on buying and making you dolt.", Cass retorted, "So more weight for us to tote around which will, like I said, slow us down."

"You sure 'bout that?", he smirked.

Cassandra just looked at him confused, "What?"

"Let me show you.", he said motioning toward the caravan, "And all will be clear."

He watched as she rolled her eyes, "Stop acting like an idiot already, just tell me what it is."

Andrew walked over to the caravan and pulled a switch, the roof popping open and letting out a big bag of cloth.

He then went inside and turned on the heat, fire crackling in the oven and special metal tube.

He heard Cass gasp as the balloon unfurled and blew up, the caravan already staring to rise but being held down with by an anchor, a stake with a strong metal chain.

"Is that... is that a balloon??!", Cassandra asked in disbelief.

Andrew smiled, "Yup. So is this still a piece of useless junk Cass?"

She took a deep breath, "Guess I misjudged you again Andrew. Not bad."

Fidella snorted and whinnied looking at the caravan balloon.

"Don't worry, there's a place for you to stay while it's in ballon mode.", Andrew told the mare as he patted the side of the window, "And you'll have plenty of opportunity to pull the caravan to."

"So this is why you bought that piece of junk...", Cassandra figured out analyzing the caravan, "So you could modify it into a hot air balloon."

"Yeah, I call it the 'caraloon'.", he said proudly as he pulled some switches causing the caravan to land.

Cassandra crossed her arms, "The what now?"

"Caraloon. It's caravan and balloon together."

"Now that's made up.", she said smirking, "Nice try though."

Andrew frowned and then shrugged, "I still think it's a good name for it.", he then glanced at the dark blue sky, "By the way we can start leaving first thing tomorrow morning. It's late."

"But..."

"We'll start tomorrow.", he repeated patiently, "It'll only take a couple of days to reach The Spire with the hot air balloon anyway."

Cassandra shifted and sighed, "Fine... I guess I can wait until morning. But you better be right about the balloon or I'm going to punch in your nose."

He smiled, knowing if Cass was threatening him it meant she was feeling a little more like her old self.

"I got the message Cass.", he said.