<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 26px"><b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Annie, The Hero</span></b></span>​</div><br/>Annie couldn't help but to recoil slightly at Astrea's words and expression. Fae's breath, this woman was serious. She had actually brought a torture implement with her. Clearly a little unnerved, Annie glanced to Ian. But he hadn't seemed to notice. This was concerning, to say the least. And they were going to be going to the same school, possibly even classmates...<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr"/><br/>The next few days of travel were long and difficult, but at least they were relatively peaceful. Annie enjoyed speaking with the others, especially Val and Mystera. Mystera didn't speak all that much, but Annie still found her interesting nonetheless. Ian's associate, Dayyan, didn't speak much either, but Annie found quite nice to talk to as well. Then there were Astrea's guards. Compared to the Viscoutness, they were rather nice. Occasionally, she would even try to strike up a conversation with Lady Astrea. Even if she had been a little unnerving, they would be traveling together for weeks. But even so, each attempt went about as expected.<br/><br/>Although, during the travel, Annie began to feel... strange. Almost like there was something watching them as they went. And she could have sworn that she had seen something by the wagon one night, but when she had checked there was nothing there. And was it just her, or were they going through their food just a little too quickly? Not enough that they would run out by the time they reached the next town, but still a bit too quickly. To Annie, there was only one explanation.<br/><br/>A fairy was following them.<br/><br/>Annie stayed quiet about her theory. No sense in telling anyone, it might just scare the fey off. It made perfect sense. They were traveling close to Godrick's Forest, a place know for strange and unusual happenings. If Fae were to exist, they most certainly would be there. Fey liked to play tricks, and taking a bit of food was a pretty tricky trick in Annie's book. She just hoped she would be able to see the fairy before it decided to leave them alone.<br/><br/>The third night, Annie was sleeping in her tent. Suddenly, she was roused by cries of "Ambush!" "Raid!" "Guard the students!". It took a few moments for Annie to fully come to her sense, and even then she was already throwing on her furs and boots. They were under attack?!<br/><br/>"Get up, get up!" Annie exclaimed, kicking whoever she was sharing a tent with. The farmgirl grabbed her bow and slung her quiver over her shoulder, running out of her tent.<br/><br/>Goblins were swarming from the forest. Unlike the goblin girl she had seen run out of Mr. Asterro's class, there were mean, muscular creatures armed to the teeth. Even in the darkness, Annie could feel their bloodlust. Archers from one side, charging enemies from another. Dayyan charged into battle, drawing a black sword. Annie could not let him fight alone.<br/><br/>Adrenaline pumping through her system, the farmgirl ran to the cart. She ducked next to it for cover as she drew an arrow, breathing quickly. Her hands were shaking. This was a battle in earnest, something Annie had never experience before. Before Annie could jump out and attack, there was a strange popping noise from the cart. Arrows did not make that noise when hitting wood.<br/><br/>There was a goblin in the cart.<br/><br/>Annie was about to point her bow at the creature when she stopped. She recognized this goblin. This was no fierce denizen of Godrick's Forest. It was the goblin girl that had fled from Mr. Asterro's class?! And she was attacking the other goblins with a wand?!<br/><br/>"W... w..." Annie stammered. "What in tarnation are y'- How did ya... Aw, ferget it!"<br/>Annie leaned out from behind the cart, firing an arrow at one of the goblin archers hiding by the treeline. Her arrow flew wide, missing completely, and Annie ducked back behind the cart. She was shaking like a leaf. This whole thing was terrifying! But if she didn't get it together now, she might be the one bleeding out a dying in a few moments.<br/><br/>Annie grit her teeth. She had to steady herself. With her arms shaking this much, Annie's shots would go wild no matter what she did. The farmgirl recalled what she had read in her grandfather's tome. A small bit on enhancement magic.<br/>"Muicharb... Mucra... Amrifnokh!" Annie chanted quietly. Instantly, she felt the heat in her core. The enhancement magic stopped her arms from shaking, and Annie drew another arrow. Annie leaned out from behind the cart, trying to pick out the goblin archers through the darkness. She drew the bow taut, a little further than she would be able to normally from her enhancement magic, and waited.<br/><br/>Another goblin archer leaned out from their cover, taking aim at the wagon from where Mue had attacked. Annie let loose the arrow, which flew towards the goblin and struck it in the chest! Then, a strange screeching sound rang out! Annie looked back just in time to see a strange, hooded woman vanish. One that had definetly not been traveling with them. Or... had she?<br/>"Faeries now too?! What is happening?!" Annie exclaimed.