The departure

It was officially six o'clock in the morning. Ron was already out of bed and walking to the infirmary as they had planned with Ellen. He was dressed in a huge black jumper with a hoodie over his head, a pair of square shorts, and a black pair of sneakers he had stolen from Nathan's part of the closet.

He had tip-toed his way passed the guards at the dormitory successfully and here he was crossing the class building. He arrived at the sickbay, he quietly pushed the door and sneaked in.

"Your late." Ellen was the first to speak.

"You said six,"

"Yes, it was the time I had to find you here."

Ron looked at her and noticed that she had completely changed appearance, her hair was no longer red but now silver along with her eyes. She was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of blue jeans along with black and white all-star sneakers. Next to her was a backpack with maybe all her necessary supplies, a bow and stash of arrows, and a short blade covered in a leather Scabbard.

Cassie walked in. Holding a file that she handed over to Ellen that she signed immediately and returned. Cassie then walked up to Ron and handed him the file without saying a thing.

"What is this?" he asked as he tried to quickly read through,

"It's an agreement spell, the light elf will keep shut about our whereabouts, and in exchange she gets protection."

"Protection from what?"

"It doesn't concern you, just sign the agreement," Ellen said, he immediately grabbed the pen and signed the agreement. Then handed the file back to Cassie.

"So what now?"

"Cassie here is going to fake a sickness that we have both contracted, and we will be sent back home as soon as possible, only that we will be heading for the dark forest as you said," Ellen explained. "But first we need to go to town and get some supplies."

"You mean those aren't enough." he pointed at the pile of things she had already packed.

"No," she said.

"I wonder what is wrong with women." he thought, then looked away from the pile.

Ellen turned and faced Cassie, "Do it." she said. Ron had no idea of what was going on.

Cassie nodded in response, she took a few steps back and put her file in her right hand. "Good luck," she said, then snapped her fingers.

Ron found himself being sucked into a vacuum, something similar to what happened in the bushes s he left the lake. There was a bright light and boom! They appeared right in front of the Norse shop he was when he met the dwarf.

Wait why are we…

Follow me." Ellen interrupted him, they walked into the store, the bell rang and Isvark jumped from the counter,

"Welcome! To The Norse….Oh, it's you again" his smile immediately changed into a serious frown. Ron didn't know who the dwarf was looking at to change his mood so easily.

"Morning, Isvark, did you receive what I ordered for," she smiled, but her face was telling him; if it's not here I will kill you.

"Yes, it's in the back, Artemis…" Isvark said. Ron sighed with relief, so the dwarf wasn't mad at him, he was mad at Ellen, wait! When did he know that Ellen was Artemis?

Isvark went under the counter and tossed a big box labeled: Artemis. Ellen rushed and pulled off the tape that was sealing the box, she opened it and then pulled out a golden double-edged sword.

"Here." she threw the weapon at him, and he grabbed it clumsily like he was about to drop it.

Surprisingly, the sword was light despite it being made of gold. On the handle, it had something that looked like a golden castle engraved on it. Isvark stared at him as he held the blade. He looked worried and frustrated.

"Is the sword cursed or something." he thought, but he chose not to say more.

Also from the box, there was a golden campus and a map. Which she all pushed into her bag.

Once she was done, she pulled a tiny sack, opened it, and pulled out five gold coins that she dropped on the counter.

'"For your troubles," she said. Isvark nodded, "Thank you," he said. "Artemis."

"Pleasure is all mine, Isvark." she smiled. And without furthermore both Ron and Ellen left the store.

they continued into the darkest part of the ghost town, where the entrance to the dark forest was, the whole place was creepy, the air was thick and foggy and Ron could barely see a thing, he wished he could say the same for Ellen, but she had an Altaen crystal that was guiding them to the dark forest.

"Why was Isvark looking at me like that?" he began

You ask too many questions. Did you know that? Ellen said, ad hey continued to pursue through the thick bushes.

Yes, I do, because am curious." he shrugged.

"Well, I hope you've heard if the phrase curiosity killed the cat. Now shut up and let me focus," she commanded.

~the crystal started to flicker and suddenly stopped glowing~

"What does that mean?" Ron asked referring to the crystal's sudden power down.

It means where here," Ellen said. "C'mon we have to move faster I'm sure Fenrir is already looking for us."

Ron heard a growling. And that's when he realized that it was too late for them to say that. he quickly followed his instincts and carried Ellen out of the way before the giant wolf appeared out of nowhere and crashed into the nearby trees and bushing hence destroying them in an instant.

They both fell to the ground with him being on top of Ellen.

How did you?….she was surprised

I heard it." Ron answered.

Get off me," she demanded and pushed him off.

They both stood up, and she made the bow appear in her hand. She pulled the string and a light conjured into an arrow that she fired at the wolf creating a huge explosion once it hit its target. Ron pulled Ellen by the hand and they started running away from the wolf.

The wolf wasn't affected by the attack, it ran charging for them with its eyes fixed on Ron.

Ron noticed that the wolf was after him, so he used a small percentage of his strength to push Ellen into a bush. And once he made sure the beast wasn't after Ellen he increased speed, he was athletic meaning he could keep up, and with his body being evolved he knew the wolf would have to try harder if it is was to catch him.

he stopped when a tree log flew from the direction he was heading, he ducked and the log smashed into the wolf and it quickly fell into the trees.

Ron pushed up and tried to look around and see who had done that, whoever it was, they had just saved his life. It was a bit dark, but through the fog, he could see an Altaen crystal glowing and floating in the air.

"Who's there?"

The person walked out and he couldn't believe who he was looking at, it was Nathan.

"I can explain…"A light arrow hit him before he could speak any further and slammed him into a tree trunk. Ron turned at it was Ellen who had fired the arrow, her hair and clothes were already messy with leaves and dirt.

"Give me a good reason on why I shouldn't kill you now and here," she demanded, aiming her arrow at him.

Because I know everything," Nathan crocked, he slowly stood up and faced the two of them, "I know about the prophecy and your father, Ron. I know the truth."

"Stop! What do you know about my father?" Ron moved forward, and glancing at Nathan,

"I know he was from here, that he worked for Nightrise and that is why he was killed."

"Nightrise! the energy research company? That's impossible they have taken care of me my whole life," Ron doubted,

~there was a shaking in the trees as the wolf returned~

"Why do you reject me Artemis, aren't ain't a friend." It snarled in ancient Greek. This time Ron couldn't understand.

I should have never trusted a child of the god of evil and mischief." she said, the wolf leaped forward, its mouth open to swallow Ellen. Ron just jumped in its way, he didn't know where all the courage and strength were coming from.

He shut his eyes and followed his instincts. Once he opened them, there was blood on his fist, and the wolf looked like it had been thrown through the forest and dragged into the ground.

What have I just done?" he asked himself surprised by the damage he alone had done unknowingly, then turned. Ellen was smiling as if she was impressed, as for Nathan his eyes were very wide from shock.

"Nightrise is an organization run by humans under the command of giants," Nathan said.