The rest of the day wasn't peaceful for Sam. Far from it. Luck obviously wasn't on their side. For about an hour she just rode forward, hoping that the guards won't catch up with them. They rarely left their province's borders, and Sam knew it, so she tried to get to the closest bordering region and get help. Every once in a while she checked up on the unconscious ghost teen.

'He is so stupid,' Sam thought, shaking her head. He could just blast the gates open or phase them through the wall, or use any other ability she wasn't aware of. But instead he chose to use an artifact which could easily make him full ghost. That's why she was angry. Maybe she wouldn't have been if Danny wasn't so reckless. He may be the King of Hell, or Infinite Realms, doesn't matter how you call it, but he still wasn't immortal.

But it still didn't stop Sam from worrying about him. Especially right after he blacked out. She didn't know what to do and at first, but managed to get a hold of herself and get away from pursuers. It wasn't easy, but the colt had a very good stamina and intelligence, it almost seemed like he was leading the way, not Sam. She was scared while checking his pulse and feeling none. It was supposed to beat, even if slow, while he was in human form. The fact that he was still somehow breathing calmed her down a bit.

Of course she would be worried. She didn't want to lose her only friend. The irony can be an absolutely unexpected thing. Actually, it always is. If you told her month ago that she will care deeply for a son of the Devil, she would have laughed at how ridiculous that sounds. Sam wasn't as religious as the rest of her family, she is the kind of person who believes only in what she sees. But in this month a lot of things had changed, and she was ready to believe in everything now.

The sun had finally set behind the thick lines of trees. Unluckily, it was a cloudy night, the road was hid in shadows for most of the time, besides rare moments when the moon managed to shine through the thick black clouds. The way was straight, with only one crossroad ahead. And that was when Sam got a problem. She didn't know where to go, there wasn't any sign which could show the direction. Sam sighed.

"Where do you think we should go, huh?" She asked Bucefal. The colt let out a whine, before turning his head to the left. Sam blinked in surprise.

"You...can understand me?" Bucefal nodded.

Sam had a strange feeling that all this time it wasn't a simple horse.

"I don't know why you hadn't given us a sign before," she turned him to the left, "But I guess we don't have a choice."

They rode further and further. The moon was at its zenith, and Sam's eyes started to close. She wanted to sleep so badly, and her desire grew bigger and bigger with every yawn escaping her mouth. Maybe she could just take a nap...

Suddenly Bucefal stopped and she nearly fell off, along with Danny's unconscious body. After rubbing her eyes, she looked at her surroundings and the reason of their stop became very clear. It was a rat. A huge dog-size rat, with dirty and shaggy gray fur, beady brown eyes and skinny tail and legs. It stared at the bypassers, as if considering should it try to eat them or not. Sam instinctively put her hand on a sword, previously taken from Danny. She didn't know how to handle it properly, but it should scare that beast for a rat.

The rat backed away with a hiss. It sure was smart enough to recognize the weapon. It didn't seem so eager to attack as before, but it still gave them a look of hunger. Then, it sniffed the air and its eyes fell on the ghost teen. The animal hissed again ferociously. What was Danny telling about animals and how they react on them?

Suddenly the rat lunged at them and bit the colt on a leg. Bucefal let out a loud whine and kicked the beast with all his strength. Not many can survive a kick from a horse. Unluckily, this rat was one of them. But instead of attacking again, it ran in the woods.

"What in the...hey!" Bucefal paced after the animal. "What are you doing? Leave it be!" Sam shouted, pulling the reigns.

The colt hadn't listened. He ran after the rat, who wasn't as sneaky and unnoticeable like its smaller brothers. But it was faster, Bucefal had a hard time catching up with the animal. Sure, he couldn't go on full speed, since he had two passengers, one of which was trying to prevent the other from falling down. Not to mention a bite on his leg.

All this time Sam tried to stop Bucefal, but he stubbornly followed the rat to stomp it in mud. She didn't know for how long they rode like that. Sam felt exhausted, her hands were hurt, with red lines coming across her arms from holding reigns so tight. Finally, the colt slowed down and she was able to catch her breath and look around. They were deep in the forest, without any hint for a road.

"Happy now that we are lost?" She glared at Bucefal. "Great, now I'm talking with a horse."

Bucefal let out a sad whine and dropped his head in shame. Deciding that she needs a little walk, Sam got down from the colt.

"Now what are we supposed to...do..."

Sam saw the dim light coming from somewhere on a distance. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Stay here," she ordered to the colt, who whined, before nuzzling against her hand. "Oh no, don't try this trick with me. We are lost because of you," Bucefal dropped his head again and her look softened, before she sighed.

"Your leg hurts?" He whined in response. "Alright, let's go, just don't run away like that again."

Sam carefully situated Danny in more stable position. Then they slowly went towards the light, through the spiky bushes and grass, much to their displeasure. Especially Sam, whose dress was clinging to them and by the end was torn to shreads. Sure, it hadn't looked presentable after a week of constant wear, but now it was just a torn mess. The light was getting closer and closer, and finally, after getting through another bush, they got to the source of light.

It was an open space surrounded by forest, with a single huge oak tree in its middle. Everything was lightened by burning torches on metal stands. Right under the tree was a steaming cauldron, with a person working near it. He either hadn't noticed them, or payed no attention to the newcomers. Sam couldn't see his face, but could make out what he was whispering loudly.

"Jimmy's work is almost done, Master, but the Inquisition is searching for him, Jimmy fears that he may not be able to come here for a long while...N-no, they hadn't followed Jimmy, sir," he was making a pause between sentences, like he was currently talking with someone. Sam felt very uncomfortable, it was just plain creepy scene.

"What? Someone is here?!" The man turned around sharply and Sam was frozen. He was young, had a short scar over corner of the mouth and something cat-like about his appearance. "Yes, Master is right, a girl had come here...what Jimmy must do, Master? Are you sure? No, no," he whimpered, "Jimmy, doesn't argue with Master! He'll do as you say."

Sam snapped out of the stupor and tried to get away, but Bucefal didn't move.

"What the heck, move!" Sam shouted to the colt, but she only got a whine in response.

"Wait!" Jimmy exclaimed, raising his hands. "Jimmy means no harm!"

She continued to pull the reigns but to no effort. "C'mon, you stupid..."

Jimmy came closer and patted Bucefal. "Goood horse, she sure is smart," he said with a smile. The colt huffed at the ridiculous misunderstanding. "What?"

Sam glared at the man. "Get away," she growled.

"Master said Jimmy mustn't harm with the girl. Master just wants to talk with her."

She really wanted to punch him. But then her eyes fell on the black haired boy on Bucefal's back and the colt's leg. Maybe it was her chance.

"Only if you help them," Sam declared her condition. Jimmy looked at the ghost teen thoughtfully.

"What do you say, Master? You know what to do? Of course, girl, of course, Master knows how to heal him. Here," he picked Danny up with almost no effort. "Oh, the girl's friend is very light."

Of course he was light, his bones and muscles were made from another materials, what made him lighter for at least thirty kilos.

"What are you doing?" Sam got down from the horse.

"The girl said her friend needs help. Jimmy can make healing potion under Master's guidance," the wacko put the unconscious body on a big stone.

"Who is that 'Master' you keep talking about?" She asked exasperatedly.

"The girl means that she doesn't know about the great Lord of Nature?! Doesn't matter, the girl will learn soon."

Jimmy walked to the cauldron, full of green muddy liquid. He was throwing different herbs, mushrooms and animal parts in it, which made the potion glow slightly. Sam stared wide eyed at the process. It felt unusual, Danny explained to her that everything people around her believed in could be explained by science, that even 'demons' are just a race from another world, but what she was seeing can only be called magic.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a horrific smell coming from the cauldron. Considering the ingredients, that was not surprising.

"What the heck?" She coughed.

"You get used to the scent," Jimmy explained, not affected by smell at all. "Don't fight with it, breath deeply."

"No, thanks," Sam said sarcastically, covering her nose. "I'll better sleep in dirty stables."

Jimmy looked on a distance and listened to what his master says.

"Then drink it," he poured the potion in a metal mug.

"No."

Jimmy shrugged. "Then the girl's friend will sleep for a long while. Master won't help him if she doesn't talk with Master. And for that she must drink the special potion."

He shoved the mug in her hands. Sam looked at the green substance thoughtfully. Her mind was screaming at her not to drink this questionable liquid, hell, Jimmy had added fly mushroom there. Who knows what exactly this nutcase meant by talking with Master? Maybe he meant joining some pagan god in the Underworld. This guy didn't look like faithful catolician at all.

"What will happen if I drink it?" She asked him.

"The girl will drift in a peaceful sleep where Master will be able to talk with her."

"Like with you?" Sam wasn't looking forward to constantly hearing a voice in her head.

"No, no. Jimmy drinks another potion for that. This one only to talk in sleep once."

Sam sighed again, 'Why things should be so complicated?' She thought bitterly, before looking at Danny. 'But if it helps...'

She wanted to help him, she really did. She wanted to repay him for what he had done for her, and just drinking this potion seemed rather small compared to what he did. And, after making her decision, she turned to Bucefal.

"If he tries anything funny, just kick him."

After recieving a nod, she drank the potion. It will be hard to find more disgusting drink than the one she just tasted. It felt like sour milk mixed with fish and onion. Sam wanted to throw up, but managed to hold back gagging reflexes. Immediately she felt drowsy, her legs became weak, and finally she fell asleep.

-Later-

People often use the term 'nothing' in their speech. But when they say it they don't realize the full meaning of that word. But Sam now does. She was surrounded by complete darkness, which somehow hadn't engulfed her. She could see herself as if on sunny day.

"Is my imagination that poor?" Sam asked sarcastically.

"Your imagination has nothing to do with this, child."

She turned around rapidly. The person behind her looked very unusual. He, most probably he, seemed to be made of leaves, vines and other kinds of plants. He had a beak instead of mouth and nose, with blood red eyes shining above it. From his shoulders was hanging a torn cape. Oh, and he was twice taller than Sam.

"Wh-who are you?" She stuttered from surprise.

"Fear not, child, my name is Undergrowth, Lord of Nature," he spoke calmly.

"You are that 'Master' he spoke about..."

Undergrowth nodded. "Yes, that's me. And I wish to speak with you. I dislike this method of communication I was able to create, thanks to Nocturne. But I knew that you won't agree on another method, young James doesn't make good first impression."

Sam snorted. "That will be an understatement," she mumbled with crossed hands.

"I know what you think about, child, but I have nothing to do with his sanity. He came to me in this condition, but...I admit, I didn't help the matters, but I need someone on the outside, as much as I hate to rely on the fleshling."

"Why? You are Lord of Nature, can't you control it?"

"I can, who do you think sent that rat?" His look had a hint of amusement.

"It was you..."

"I saw you three the second you entered my forest. Sadly, that's where my influence stops. My power is pathetically low compared to what I had back in my world. Now I need someone to maintain my power level. Despite their usefulness, animals can't create the proper potion."

"But can't you just...eat?"

"No. You can say that I'm currently possessing that oak tree. I'm actually surprised that you don't react like most humans do."

"I...I'm more open minded."

"Of course," Undergrowth rolled his eyes before narrowing them. "And it has nothing to do with your companion?"

Sam's eyes widened. "H-how do you..."

"How do I know?! Please, I don't know how this brat disguised as human, but I DO know that it is HIM! I'll recognize that face everywhere."

"You know him?" Sam blurted. She almost slapped herself, 'Of course he does, Danny is his King,' she thought.

Undergrowth snorted. "Child, it's hard to find the one who DOESN'T. And even harder to find the one who has a slight sympathy for that...monster," he finished.

Sam glared at the plant ghost. "You seem to know a lot about him," she said sarcastically.

Undergrowth towered over the teen, intensely glaring at her with his red eyes.

"I. Do," he spat, mere inches from her face. Sam blinked in surprise, she was already wondering which way he was going to kill her.

"It seems that Dark has already told you some fairy tale you believe in. Do you seriously think you know who this two-faced being really is?"

"I..." Sam was in loss of words. She hadn't expected such a reaction at all. But...Danny told that he had done bad things before, but never told what exactly.

"Looks like I will have to tell you more," Undergrowth mumbled.

Immediately the landscape around changed, making Sam jump slightly in surprise. They were in a forest, but it was nothing like she had ever seen. Trees weren't big, unlike their leaves, which were half her size, there was a lot of different huge colored flowers. What Sam didn't know is that it was tropical forest, she lived in Medieval Europe, so of course she didn't.

"I am an old ghost," Undergrowth started his story, "I exist ever since the first kelp grew in oceanic water. I'm not the oldest one. What you see around us is my domain. When a new kind of plant appears in mortal world, it immediately appears here and lives for eternity in peace with other, even rival kinds. Or at least until someone comes and harms them. That was my purpose, they all are my children and I must protect them."

Sam saw a strange, but beautiful flower, but when she reached her hand to touch it, she was stopped by the plant ghost.

"I don't recommend you to do that," he said.

As if on clue, a small green creature the size of the fly flew nearby and landed on the flower. Moment later sharp spikes erupted and the creature was trapped. Sam stared at the scene, her finger could be on the creature's place.

"There are also plants which take origins in our world," Undergrowth explained. "This one is carnivore. Your world has some kinds of insect eating plants, just not so advanced. But I think we got off the topic," he added in the end with sad notes in his voice.

"What I want to say, is that I lived here in solitude for millennias. I never was bothered by what happened on the outside of my forest. I wasn't bothered when the world around became one state, I didn't care when Chancellor Dark declared himself a King of Ghosts and disbanded the Council in which I had never anticipated in the first place. A lot of time had passed since then, many kings and queens came and faded. But I never was an object of their interest. My domain lacked resources, it wasn't inhabited by any ghosts besides me, and it wasn't positioned on any important routes."

"It was like that until two years ago. Ever since the House of Dark came to power, people rebelled against their tyranny. Sometimes more successful, sometimes less, but they never managed to overthrow them and their followers once and for all. They even ended some kings, but heirs always avenged their parents, even if that wasn't the reason."

"Everything started with a battle for Acropolis, which sided with rebels. Despite all the ancient beasts in her disposal, Pandora lost the fight against the Prince and Fright Knight, Pariah's most loyal lapdog. The same prince who is currently lying unconscious on your horse. Each member of that family has his own special name by which everyone knows him or her. Prince Daniel," he said distastefuly as if the name was covered in venom, "has name 'Phantom'."

"Many were ended that day, mostly on the rebels' side. Despite being only fifteen, Phantom was a talented commander and warrior, as much as I hate to admit it. His age made people underestimate him, including me. He was the one who made his father's, and hereby his, enemies to regroup in Acropolis. He knew that they don't have any other place to go to, he took care of it. So, he trapped them in the city and destroyed. Most of them. A small group managed to get away, right into my forest."

"I wanted to throw them out, I didn't want any trouble. But something made me rethink my answer, of which I still regret. They convinced me that no one saw them, they themselves were obviously convinced in it. But somehow, Phantom learned about their new hideout...and he decided to pay a visit..." Undergrowth sighed. "I'll better show you."

With that he dissapeared. Nearby bushes moved aside, revealing a small path. "Just go that way," disembodied voice said, "And remember that that's just my memories, you can't affect them in any way."

Sam went down the path, since she had no choice but to go. It didn't take long for her to hear an interaction.

"I'm not hiding anything!" She heard Undergrowth shouting.

Finding the source of the sound, Sam looked out through the bushes.

She saw Undergrowth, who was having a conversation with Danny. But he looked different from how she got used to see him. For one, he was obviosly younger. Instead of his strange black and white clothing Phantom was wearing pitch black armor without a helmet, a black cape with dark red insides. The armor made him look more aged that he really was. A wicked looking sword was hanging from his belt.

But what shocked Sam is a look of disdain on his usually goofy face. Instead of kindness, his glowing eyes were radiating immense cold. The cold so powerful that Sam actually shivered. Those eyes held no warm feelings at all.

Besides them were standing soldiers in less regal looking armor with different equipment, starting from simple cold weapons, and ending with strange instruments, connected with containers on their backs. Undergrowth kept glancing on them nervously. All the soldiers had the same 'DP' symbol on shoulder plates.

"Yelling into my face won't get you anywhere, Undergrowth," Phantom said in a voice full of apathy, as if he wished for nothing more but to get away and do something more interesting. "If anything, it only makes me think that my assumption was correct."

"I know nothing, prince. I always stayed out of troubles of your Kingdom, and you know that."

"There is a first time for everything," Phantom responded with a hint of amusement getting through the neutral expression. "And on your place I would have watched your language," some soldiers shot in the air from their flamethrowers, causing the plant ghost flinch unvoluntary. "As you can see you are in no position for that."

"I'm telling truth! There is no one in my forest!"

Phantom's look darkened. "It's a very bad thing to lie, especially to me," he said, putting hands behind his back. "I sense sixteen ghosts around. It's ten of us, where are the other six, hm?" He tilted his head to the side with a sweet smile on his face.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Undergrowth asked nervously. The smile on prince's face slid without a trace.

"I'm losing my patience, you overgrown weed!" he spat, before stomping the nearest plant in mud with his boot. Undergrowth's eyes flared bright red. "Oh, I'm so sorry, was that your little granddaughter?" Phantom asked mockingly with a hand on his chest, earning a loud laugh from his followers.

Undergrowth roared in anger and vines erupted from the ground, with an intent to destroy the trespassers. When the vines lunged at the group, Phantom and his followers just cut them down or burned them.

"Is that all?" Phantom chuckled, putting his sword back in its sheath. "I expected something more from the old fart like you. A little fire show is in order, I guess," He said.

Soldiers didn't need to be told twice, the ones who did usually hadn't lasted for long. Undergrowth tried to stop them, but Phantom gained his undivided attention, since the prince's sword was ready to stab a hole in his chest. However, right after slash, the wound on the plant ghost's body immediately healed. He swiped his enormous hand, but Phantom jumped back and cut it off, only for it to grow again. Ghost Prince growled in annoyance, while Undergrowth smirked as much as beak allowed him.

"You can't stop the growth, arrogant child! I existed long before your filthy dynasty was even born!"

Phantom narrowed his eyes in rage.

"How. Dare you," he growled, baring his teeth and a pair of sharp fangs.

The air around them became ice cold, just like the color of his eyes. Undergrowth seemed less brave than seconds before, while Phantom grinned widely and Sam rubbed her hands to warm up. Even flamethrowers were less effective, since the gas couldn't be expulsed.

"I heard plants don't like cold," the prince smirked, before his hands started to glow blue. "Let's see if that's truth."

Undergrowth attacked with his vines, but Phantom continued his way, freezing the plants on his way with one hand, slashing them with a sword in another and leaving an icy trail under his legs. Suddenly the plant ghost grew ten times taller, towering over trees around. Phantom rolled his eyes.

"You just made my job easier."

He jumped in the air, gracefully avoiding attacks of plants growing out of nowhere and the clawed hands of the giant. Flying up to the chest level, he made a hole in it and jumped inside before Undergrowth could catch him. A loud laughter filled the air.

"What are you going to do now, huh?" Phantom commented, before Undergrowth attempted to shake him out, but the prince immediately shot an ice beam straight into his core, which caused the plant ghost yell in pain, before falling on the ground with a thunderous sound.

"Mercy! Please mercy!" He shouted, but the Ghost Prince laughed madly.

"Now look how he is talking!" Phantom mocked. "You should have thought about it BEFORE insulting me and my house," he shot a blast again, earning another roar of pain.

"STOP!"

"Not until it stops being so funny," he repeated the painful process, earning another yell.

"That's why Darks rule and you slither beneath our feet. We are the most powerful ghosts both worlds had ever seen!" He exclaimed in the end.

"But even then you rebel against us, too foolish to understand that the one who is born to grovel cannot fly," Phantom shook his head, eyeing the sword in his hand, "But enough talk. The more we talk the further rebels go, so..."

With that he stabbed the sword right into the plant ghost's core. After the last scream of pain, all the plants Undergrowth's body was made of became lifeless mass. Phantom cut through it and flew outside with disgusted look on his face. Soldiers stood still and waited for their leader's orders. The prince looked at them, humming under his nose, until his eyes fell on one of them. Suddenly he took out an ice dagger and pointed it to his throat.

"Tell me, do you even know how to handle the weapon you hold?"

"Y-yes, my lord!" The soldier gulped. Despite being younger, Phantom was already taller than many of them.

"Hm, then why you hadn't made a single shot?"

"It-t's broken."

Phantom took the weapon and pressed the triger, before the fire erupted from it.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asked, but received no response. "ANSWER!"

"I..."

"...am a rotten coward?!"

Phantom knew that it wasn't a treason. Traitor would have kept the act and attacked.

"Now listen to me, you still walk only because I need people to search this cursed place, so I'll give you a second chance and a little advice. This is Black Guards, not a regular army. From my subordinates I demand full obedience, am I clear?"

"Y-yes, milord, yes, thank you, thank you."

"And I don't stand sycophants," Phantom added, putting dagger in the sheath. "Rebels are locked in this forest, so leave no place for them to hide."

"You want us to burn it?"

Phantom turned around and started to walk away.

"Burn, blow up, slash, I don't care," he waved his hand nonchalantly, "Reinforcements shall arrive soon and assist you in destruction. I want rebels' heads brought to me by this evening."

And everything became black again.

"Now you see what I'm talking about?" Undergrowth asked, appearing again.

Sam was silent. She couldn't say a word, the feeling of shock was too strong. Sam couldn't bring herself to call that man Danny. He was sweet and kind, if a bit annoying at times, but this wicked prince was nothing of that. Cold and cruel, just like the demon she assumed he was during their first meeting. THAT surely fit the description from tales. He seemed to be mentally unstable, ready to kill you without any remorse just because you said something he didn't like. Sadistic, taking pleasure in the pain of the others.

"How are you alive?" Was the first thing she was able to ask.

"I always was a part of my former forest. Even after everything was burned, a small acorn fell from my lands straight into natural portal and became an oak you have seen not so long ago. I exist like that for decade, time flows strangely in different worlds. My spirit still exists, it lives in this forest, but I cannot return my physical appearance," Undergrowth explained sadly.

"Who were this soldiers?" She didn't want to talk about Danny, she needed to think about it for some time. Plant ghost's eyes narrowed.

"Black Guards, the elite of the Royal army. They were feared more than any part of the army for their ruthlessness and served only prince. He was the one who created them. His father Pariah, however, didn't want Phantom to have own strong military, like every Dark, he was paranoid. He sometimes appointed people in the Guards, most often some noble brats, much to his son's displeasure as you can see. They often didn't fit his definition of soldiers. But Pariah couldn't complain, Phantom completed his orders right on time without any troubles."

"Why did they use weapons? Don't they have powers for that?"

"Phantom had own requirement preferences. He enlisted ghosts who had served in human armies before their deaths. Even then he himself checked how good they were and picked the strongest. The cons of such decision was absence of core abilities. Post-humans almost never have them. They replaced abilities with weaponry feeding from ectoplasm."

A silence settled between them, until Sam decided to break it.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked.

"I want to warn you, child. Whatever this monster is planning, you don't deserve to fall a victim of his sheme."

"But why do you want to tell me?" Undergrowth smiled slightly.

"I want to repay you, child. Don't you remember what happened ten years ago?" Sam shook her head.

"Back when I was just an acorn, I fell on a stone. Lifeless, hard stone on which this seed would have died...but then you came along."

Blackness faded and the light came to its place. It was an open space, lively and sunny. Undergrowth pointed his finger towards one round rock. There really was a small acorn on it. Sam jumped in surprise when a small head peaked from behind the stone. She blinked. It was her, a seven years old her, with the same raven hair and purple eyes bright with curiosity and innocence.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Acorn?" She asked adorably, before carefully grabbing the acorn in her hands. "This is a bad place to live on. Let's put you somewhere better!"

Little Sam ran on the distance, and older Sam followed her. A small girl sat on her knees, before digging a small hole.

"Here you go," she said with a grin, putting the acorn in the hole, "here you will grow in a biiig oak," Sam spread her arms widely, making her older self smile in amusement. She closed the hole and got up on her feet.

"Samantha, where are you?" Sam's blood boiled and her fists clenched after she heard a familiar voice. She wanted to stop her younger self from coming to that people, but was gently stopped by Undergrowth.

"You can't interfere, remember?" Sam looked down sadly, before the memory dissappeared.

"I want to repay you by saving your life like you saved mine," he told her.

Sam rubbed her hands uncomfortably. Even if evidences were in front of her, she couldn't believe what she saw. What plan could Danny have, what use she was for some devious plan? She was supposed to be burned on stake if not for him. She is still wanted across the country, her face is on every corner, she doesn't make anything easier for him. Yet, he was still helping her.

"If...if you want to help me..." Sam said uncertainly, "Then heal him."

If Undergrowth's eyes could pop out of his head, they most certainly would have.

"WHAT?! You can't be serious, child! You saw him, you saw what he can do, and you want him to stay alive?!"

"Please...even if he plans something, he is the only one who can help me."

"Help in what?"

"To get to my grandma, I can't stay with my parents, they call me a witch. They fear me, and the Inquisition wants to kill me. I don't have a choice but to rely on him."

Undergrowth hummed, tapping with his finger on his chin, before sighing heavily.

"I can't believe I'm doing this. Child, are you sure about this?"

Sam nodded. "Yes."

"Then...alright, but if he kills you, don't come here as ghost and say that I hadn't warned you."

Sam smiled slightly. "Thank you."

And even if she sounded confidential, she couldn't help but wonder. Was she making a right choice?