<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 26px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Annie, The Hero</span></span>​</div><br/>Maybe bringing up the stipend wasn't such a great idea. But Annie shared Val's sentiment. She planned on leaving some money behind for her family as well, and it was likely they would be sharing the same sentiment as Thomas. But just like Val, she wouldn't be taking no for an answer. But then, the conversation was changed to something dear to Annie. Dinner.<br/>"Why, of course! It'd be wonderful to have th' both of you fer dinner."  Annie said, a big grin spreading across her face.<br/><br/>The trio braved the cold, dreary evening back to the Medihr Ranch. Mercedes had expected Annie would try something like this, and had prepared a larger meal in anticipation. It was practically a small feast, and the small ranch house glowed with warmth in the cold northern air. Annie's father and brothers were surprised at the news of Annie and Val's acceptance into White Castle, and heaped congratulations onto the pair. It was one last night full of warmth, happiness, and celebration before the long journey.<br/><br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr"/><i>The Next Day...</i><br/><br/>Annie paused from packing at the sound of a knock at her door.<br/>"Hey, uh... Annie? Y'good?" The voice of her eldest brother, Michael, called through the door. Annie opened the door to see the rest of her family standing outside.<br/>"What's all this about?" Annie asked. Dilan stepped forward.<br/>"A-Annie!" Dilan said. "Well. Since yer gonna be gone a good long while, well... We figured we oughta give ya some more stuff, just so y' can be extra safe."<br/>"Extra studious." Raphael chimed in.<br/>"And so you can keep a little bit of home with you." Michael said.<br/><br/>Dilan shoved a dagger into Annie's hand. Annie stared at it in shock.<br/>"It's my best hunting knife. Y' might need it on the way to the Castle." Dilan said. The man stared at Annie for a moment, before blinking and rubbing his eyes. "... A-ahm gonna m-miss you, A-Annie..."<br/>"She ain't dyin' Dilan, quit your blubberin" Raphael said, smacking his brother on the arm. He turned his attention back to Annie, handing her a small journal. "Some parchment, fer the classes."<br/><br/>"Raph..." Annie said, looking down at the journal. "This is supposed to be fer yer poems. And Dilan, ah-ah can't just take yer best knife, what are you gonna do when yer hunting?"<br/>"He'll use one of his other 15 knives." Annie's father said. "It's the least we can do, especially with you leaving a lot of your stipend with us."<br/>"An' don't worry, I took out most of the pages that had poems." Raphael said.<br/><br/>Michael stepped forward.<br/>"Here's a compass. In case you end up lost, it'll help you." Michael said.<br/>"And here." Merideth handed Annie a small book, and some clothes. "My nice dress I had when ah was your age. And, some of yer favorite recipes. But yer gonna have to make them yerself now."<br/>"We know you're going to do great, Annie. You always were the smart one." Annie's father said. "Now you go out there, and show them just how great you are!"<br/><br/>Annie looked back to her family, her arms full of the gifts. Tears welled up in her eyes.<br/>"Ma... Pa... Oh..." Annie said. She dropped everything, hugging her family as she cried.<br/><br/>....<br/><br/>Many tears, goodbyes, and packing later, Annie was on her way. After some drawing of straws and arguing, Raphael was the one who got to ride into town with Annie to see her off. The pair rode in on one horse, Onyx, and eventually made it to the town square. Right where Ian had instructed her to meet.<br/><br/>"So, who all is goin' with ya besides Val? Anyone ya recognized?" Raph asked.<br/>"Well, ah did meet this one girl called Mysteria." Annie said<br/>"Mysteria... What was she like?" Raph asked.<br/>"Well, she looked about mah age. Long black hair. She spoke real funny, real flowery like. Like out of those old stories ya used to read to me." Annie said. Raph rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment.<br/>"Hm... Mysteria the mysterious, woman of mystery." Raph muttered.<br/><br/>They finally reached the road leading out of Ashburn. And there Ian was, along with Dayyan. And quite a few others. Mysteria was there, but so were a small squad of guards.  As well as another beautiful woman, one with dark brown hair and dressed in very fine traveling clothes, if they could even be called that.<br/>"... Hold on, is that..." Annie trailed off.<br/>"Lady Astrea Silvid..." Raph whispered. Annie glanced nervously to her brother, before dismounting the horse and throwing the saddlebags containing her traveling gear over her shoulder.<br/><br/>"Y'should probably head back to the ranch, Raph. Ah mean, Ma and Pa are probably waitin' fer ya." Annie said.<br/>"I think I'll stick around for a little bit, at least until you're off." Raphael said. Annie looked up at Raph, before sighing and shaking her head.<br/>"Just try not to embarrass yerself, or me." Annie said. Annie walked towards the group, pausing as she got close to Lady Astrea. The ranch girl gave the noble a small curtsy before turning to Ian.<br/>"Is everything all right, Mr. Ian?" Annie asked the professor.