The long road ahead

The call of a bird is heard among the thick trees. A soft howl of a tawny owl resounds between the icy gusts of wind. The sun hangs low in the sky, and cold snowflakes fall out of the clouds. Alana shivers in her saddle. "Professor, may I ask something?" Jaspar looks over at her. "Of course," he says with a soft sigh. "The witch ... she ... burned herself" Jaspar nods. She is called "Isobelle". "You remember what I said about witches?" Alana looks carefully at the amulet. "Witches store their strength in the amulets. Katara did that too. It is thanks to that power that Isobelle cannot touch you. Katara left this with you, so it could protect you. It won't do miracles. But it will protect you when somebody with bad intentions touches the amulet. It will expand your life when necessary." "What do you mean?" "When you are gravely injured and should have died hours ago. Just don't take the necklace off. That will be the only thing keeping you alive." Alana nodded. "Did Katara leave it to protect me from hate?" "No child, when Katara left you, she wanted to protect you from bad things. Hate wasn't created yet in those days." Alana bites her lip. So she did care for her! "Child, I know you are scared, but you won't have to do it alone. I promise you that." Alana fakes a smile. "We did promise not to lie to each other." Jaspar chuckles. "I really love your fire. Your spirit. I will miss it when our ways part." Alana looked up. What do you mean? You are not going to leave me, are you?" "I promised you to take you to safety. But after that, I must go to my people. I must warm them. They must prepare themselves. There is a war coming." Alana swallows. She knows he is right. But she just wished it was different. She hoped so hard that everything was different. "Alana" yells Jaspar and pushes her to the side. Alana groans and lifts her head from the cold floor. "Professor," she asks, and looks up. Surprised, she crawled backward. Jaspar saved her life... again. Fighting with a broad ax and a short sword, he calls out to Alana. "Run! Alana run!" Alana looked fascinated at the creation that attacked them. Almost unable to hear Jaspar. The long green Serpentine dragon hisses and tries to bite Jaspar in every way possible. It roars like a bear when Jaspar's blade touches his olive-green slime-covered long snake's body. On his lion-shaped head burn two bright golden catlike eyes. His mouth opens up into a set of sharp ivory fangs. "Alana, run to the mountains!" Alana looks at Jaspar. She gasps. "Jaspar" she cries. "Go child, go. Run as fast as you can and don't look back!" Alana swallows. She bites her lip. Deep down she knows... they will never see each other again. But still, she turns and runs hastily towards the mountains, looking for a cave to hide or a road towards a village. Jaspar groans and puts his blade deep into the basilik his forehead. He takes a deep breath and sighs. Alarmed, he looked up at the sound of slow applauding sounds. "Great show," Hate says, amused. Jaspar groans. "Hate", he scolds, and spits on the floor. Hate chuckles as he walks toward Jaspar. "Thought I recognized you" he says. Jaspar aims his weapons toward him. Hate stops and smiles. "You annoying dwarf" he groans and waves his hand. The basilisk moves slowly towards Jaspar. Jaspar tries to fight it, but soon the lifeless snakeskin is wrapped around his plump short body. "You'll never find her now," Jaspar says. Hate smiles softly. "You think?" "You have lost Hate, and you will die! She will come for you!" "Not if I come for her first", he whispers in Jaspar his ear and grabs the little guy by his throat. Your services have been filled. Jaspar chuckles softly. "You'll never get what you want" he coughs. Hate smiles. "I already have what I want" he whispers and breaks Jaspar his neck with a loud crack. The basilisk disappears into thin air while Jaspar, his lifeless body, remains on the cold floor.