A new day has arised.

The sun was slowly descending, making way for the moon to take it's place and give another start to the night.

With the little time i had left before the sun was truly gone, i looked into my schoolbag, where i put all of the objects i have thought necessary for the upcoming journey.

"Blood bottle, the book..." Talking to myself was a way to relax, but also because i thought that it would be easier to remember something that i forgot if i count everything loudly. "And a compass." The compass was rather important - The book mentioned reference points and what direction to take from those.

With everything in place, i got the bag on my back, walking to the door.

The faint light of the sun was still showing through the small gap from beneath the doors... My breaths producing vapors due to the cold as i watched the light slowly vanish.

And then... It was gone. As a consequence, i have opened the doors of the mansion and walked out - The moon was almost aligned with the frames.

Closing the door behind me left a bit of nostalgia inside of me... Walking away from it, only to look towards it the whole time until i left it's parameter.

Thinking about it now, i could have closed the doors with the key - I was too used for Escanor to close them behind me and i did not understand the concept of the mansion being "in danger" until the incident with the men getting in...

Once i got relatively far from the mansion, i have taken out the compass - The book's directions were straight from the mansion, which just proved further that the book was written by father - I looked to were west was and started heading in that direction, slightly hesitant...

The road was boring, plain with only a few hills... But for me, it was calming. The area being so open gave me the possibility to notice any dangers close - Plus, i could very well look into the sky to admire the beautiful waxing crescent moon, accompanied by the bright and visible stars - I almost saw myself through them.

As beautiful as the sight was, tempting me to just stop and lay in the grass to continue appreciating it, i knew i must continue. I have not walked for long, but the anxiety of day coming or danger approaching kept creeping inside of me.

It was probably pretty early then - In that period of the year, night came sooner and lasted longer. It would not have been a surprise to see people walking around, still... Something that happened at that exact moment.

I stopped and look at the figure from afar, walking on a path... I felt dumb for not knowing about that path, but also relieved. If i was on that path right now, i would have come face to face with whoever or whatever that was.

Fortunately for me, they just kept walking. I was not sure whether it noticed me or not, but it did not matter. I once again started walking.

Not for long, however. This time noticing a light on the path - A light from a torch, wielded by a man which had a woman alongside him.

"Can ye gimme the torch now ?" The woman spoke - Perhaps too loudly.

"Shut up, woman !" The man swiftly replied "You asked this 2 kms ago !"

"Then shine the damned light over there !"

'There' ?

Where ?

That is what was going through my mind at that point, but quickly got the answer as i felt something approaching, making me jump and look in that direction.

"What in God's name is a child doing at this hour outside ?" It was the man's voice, startling me as i was trying to find my words...

"I... I was going home... From a friend..." I said, my fingers fidgeting, even my breathing shaking.

"Well do i wanna give a piece o' my mind to those parents of yours !" The woman said... I felt the hole in my heart growing deeper.

"Oh, come on, it's a safe road !" The man then replied, then crouched to be on the same level as me. "What's yer' name, girl ?"

"Yeah !" The woman barged in the conversation once again. "Maybe i know 'em !"

"I don't think we know anybody with genes that give red eyes and... White hair strokes."

Escanor told me not to reveal my true name to strangers... If they knew i'm from THAT family, who knows what they'll do for some money ?

I was silent, thinking about something... Which made me panic even more, maybe they'd get skeptical because of me taking a bit too long to reveal "my" name...

So i spoke the first things that came in my mind:

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"S... Starla..." I could already feel their weirded out gazes and how dumb it sounded, but i could not go back now. "Starla Cloudstar..."

...

"Yeah, i don't know you." The man replied, then looking towards the woman. Meanwhile, i slowly started backing away.

"Well, i can get ya home !" The woman said. "I didn't wanna come around 'ere anyways !"

"Damn it, woman, i told you that ye can stay home ! I wanted to go to the party, you didn't have to come !"

I then finally started walking away in a fairly quick pace, gripping the backpack's straps tightly.

"I must really get home now..."

Now, on the path, it was much more straight forward, no hills and all... But there were rocks around, which i did not pay attention to.

I heard the voice of the woman calling to me, which made me increase my walking speed... A mistake that led me tripping on a rock and falling head on, even sliding a bit, which led to some skin on my hands, ankles and forehead get ripped and bleed. I felt fortunate for my lack of pain... And regeneration - The small amount of blood on the floor remained though.

Before i could get up, the woman caught up to me, with a torch. As she approached, the light started shining on me... All this time, even when talking to her i had that usual smile of mine - The fangs and red eyes suddenly were more "important"... And the woman pointed the torch at me.

"I thought those were simple stories..." She spoke in a voice that conveyed fear. "Sure, red eyes and fangs are all crazy, but it's still kinda realistic, y'know ?" I slowly attempted getting up, but she only got the torch closer to my face. "But getting hurt like that and nothing happening ? Not even shedding a tear ?"

But now, i could not take it anymore. I wanted to leave already.

So i got up in such a fast way that the woman could not react - When she noticed my position, she backed up, but... I ran.

She did not say anything, she did not follow. Perhaps she was more scared of me than i was at her... One thing was for sure, however - She was smart.

So i kept running, this time watching my step - Running on the path, running towards the moon as the light behind me slowly faded.

Besides watching my step, it was necessary to pay attention to the surroundings as well... After all, i had a reference point specified in the book...

A reference point i quickly noticed - An oversized rock.

The panic from earlier did not dim, i did not want to stop. My actions were rushed - Taking out the compass to check where north was and quickly heading there.

A part of me hoped that whatever this whole journey leads me to will be nothing.

Absolutely nothing interesting so i can head back home. I missed home. I missed my family.

But only one of those was waiting for me there.

Eventually, i have stepped into a forest - I knew i was close now, but it felt far.

The forest was probably one of the worst places you could be in at night... So i ran faster... Faster and faster.

The owls did not help... Nor did the rustle in the bushes and trees.

I had to be wary of multiple things at that point:

Where i stepped, the compass and the surrounding area.

...The fact that the rustle came from my front was horrible, making me stop in my tracks, despite knowing well that i am supposed to be heading in that direction.

Now, what has revealed itself from there was unexpected.

A fortunate kind of unexpected, i must add.

It was a deer that looked at me for a second, only to keep running into another direction.

Unfortunately, however, a pack of wolves were hunting it... I did exactly what someone should not do when encountering wolves:

Run.

I ran, thus getting the attention of about half of the pack - Which where three then.

Their paws hit the floor loudly, they struggling to keep up with my speed which was just increasing.

A human is not quicker than a wolf, but i am no human.

I was hopeful for an escape then, but that hope was shattered pretty much instantly as i was met with a tall hill that i had no way to climb.

Thinking about it now, i could have taken them out fairly easy, but i had no idea then... Nor did i have the heart to hurt another living being intentionally.

So i turned towards them, frozen... Not completely however - My whole body was shaking

Meanwhile, the wolves were starting to freeze as well, but literally.

I fell on my knees and watched the scene. A scene that is frozen in my memory to this day.

Between the ice statues in the shape of wolves, a gallant figure gracefully fell down - An air of mystery and cold surrounding it.

The figure turned towards me, having the same red, glowy eyes as me, approaching with an open mouth smile, revealing sharp fangs - Probably sharper than mine at the time.

It spoke.