Nightshadow

Andy stared at the two Sabers a short distance in front of him, both legs trembling.

What made Andy want to spit blood even more was that the second, sturdier Saber had growled at the other one to intimidate it, then turned back and grinned at him. It looked just like it was laughing.

That's right, it was laughing! And it had laughed twice! What was going on? This was a beast, so how the hell could it laugh? Had the creature decided he was its next meal, or was it mocking him?

I, I, I... Andy nearly choked and collapsed on the spot.

"Elf, what's this one's deal?" Andy asked in a trembling voice.

"Calculating," Monster Spirit replied.

"This..." Andy was truly at his wit's end. The system usually acted like it was the greatest thing in the world, so why did it always fail him when it mattered?

"Damn it, whatever! You two beasts, I'll fight you to the death! Don't think I'm that easy to bully!" Andy rolled up his sleeves and started cursing. "Just because I'm small and scrawny doesn't mean I'm weak! I'm tough! Don't think I—"

One line from Monster Spirit silenced Andy mid-rant. "I haven't calculated the other party's level yet, but your words will definitely be taken as taunting."

Andy was ready to spit blood. He couldn't beat them, couldn't run away, and now he didn't even dare curse them. What kind of situation was this?

"Roar!" The second Saber let out a bellow that nearly made Andy wet himself. His already trembling legs gave way, and he slid down the tree trunk to the ground.

The powerful Saber wasn't roaring at Andy, but at the first Saber. The first Saber's legs instinctively buckled. It whimpered twice, hesitated for a moment, then tucked its tail between its legs and ran off, having sensed the aura of a king from its opponent.

It's over! That first Saber was such a coward. It ran off after being roared at twice? What a wimp! That also ruined Andy's plan to sit back and watch them fight. He hadn't realized the first Saber was so pathetic.

Now it really was over! The burly leopard had started walking toward him. What should he do? Andy's legs shook. Suddenly, he sighed toward the sky. Heaven means to destroy me! he thought. He shut his eyes, as if resigning himself to his fate. Whatever happened, happened. All he could think about was Old Man Dick's illness. It seemed he wouldn't get the chance to find a practitioner to treat the old man after all.

Andy waited for a long while, but no claws or fangs came down to deliver a fatal blow. What was going on? He cautiously opened one eye and peeked ahead.

A tall Elf was crouching in front of him, watching him with interest. Andy suddenly shouted, "Hey! Where's the beast? Where is it?"

Andy sprang to his feet. Only then did he see that the person before him was an Elf girl, with a long ponytail hanging down her back and beautiful purple eyes that were gazing at him with a smile.

For a moment, Andy felt like a complete clown. He'd been so frightened by a beast that he'd collapsed on the ground, which was embarrassing enough—especially in front of a girl. And the ridiculous part was that, after getting up, he'd still shouted to ask where the beast was.

"Uh, did you chase the beast away and save me? Thanks, thanks. Well, I have things to do, so I'll see you around, haha." Andy awkwardly rubbed his head, hastily making up an excuse to escape.

"The beast?" the Elf girl said. "You mean that Saber from before? Hehe, that was only a level-two beast. Nothing special."

Andy stopped mid-step and nearly stumbled to the ground. He cried, "What did you say? A level-two beast? A Saber that big was only level two? Then it must be all brawn and no brains. Even that tiny one from before was level two!"

The Elf girl stared blankly at Andy for two seconds, then suddenly chuckled and said in a strange tone, "You mean the strong one?"

Andy nodded frantically.

"Then, look. Is this what you mean?" the Elf girl said. A cloud of gray mist rose around her, but dissipated after just two or three seconds. When it cleared, she had turned into the sturdy Saber.

"Whoa!" Andy leaped backward, slamming his back against the tree. "Th-this... you turned into it?"

Andy broke out in a cold sweat. This was bad! Had she heard everything he'd said while cursing her? Hadn't he just called her all brawn and no brains? What was he going to do now?

The Elf girl returned to her normal form. Looking at the terrified Andy, she frowned and said, "Where are you from, kid? Why are you so easily startled?"

Andy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and answered, "I'm from a little village by the sea in the south. It's called Rut'theran. Do you know it?"

Andy was relieved that she didn't bring up his earlier insults, and quickly answered whatever she asked.

"Rut'theran?" the Elf girl murmured. "I really haven't heard of it! What are you doing here? Don't you know it's dangerous around Teldrassil? Well, dangerous for you, anyway!"

"Ma'am!" Andy said with a fawning smile. "Can I ask if you're a practitioner?"

"A practitioner? What practitioner?" The Elf girl looked completely bewildered, then immediately understood. "We don't call it that here, but it's pretty much the same. Why do you ask?"

"Then that's perfect!" Andy said, dropping to his knees in front of her with a thump. "Please, save my old man! The village elder said only practitioners or priests like you can help him!"

The Elf girl was startled by his sudden move and stepped back. "What are you doing? Get up!"

"If you don't agree, I'm not getting up!" Andy said, jutting out his chin.

"Get up first, then we'll talk!" the Elf girl said. "You haven't even told me what happened. How can I help you?"

Andy slowly got to his feet, looking awkward, and then explained Old Man Dick's condition. The Elf girl listened, frowning. If this boy named Andy was telling the truth, how had he managed to cross such a long stretch of wilderness alone and only gotten into trouble now? She knew the area around Teldrassil better than anyone. An Elf without proper training couldn't possibly travel through the wilderness alone.

"I can't make that decision on my own," the Elf girl said. "Normally, I could ask my teacher about this, but he isn't in the city. I can only have my senior fellow apprentice take me to report it to the priest. We can't use the healing or blessing spells we've learned whenever we want. That's an order!"

"Okay, I'll go back with you, but we have to hurry. I'm afraid my old man won't last much longer." Andy looked anxious.

The Elf girl thought to herself that, regardless of how the kid had made it here alone, she ought to help him, given how devoted he was to his father. Wasn't that exactly what her teacher was always telling her? She would let the priest decide what to do.

"Fine. I'll take you there now." As she spoke, the Elf girl transformed back into a beast—a yellow leopard with black spots this time. "Get on. What are you waiting for?" the leopard she had turned into said to Andy, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Andy climbed onto the leopard's back, his heart full of apprehension. He wrapped both arms around her body, afraid he might slip off. So she could still speak in such a lovely voice in beast form! Andy's mischievous side was starting to show again.

"Ma'am, what's your name?" Andy asked. She'd helped him, so he should at least know her name.

"Hilar Nightshadow!" the Elf girl replied. "You can just call me Hilar."

"Big Sister Hilar, are you learning Druid magic?" Andy asked softly. The leopard Hilar had turned into was running so fast that whenever he opened his mouth, a gust of wind rushed in.

"You know about that?" Hilar asked, somewhat surprised. After all, he'd been scared enough to nearly wet himself just a moment ago.

Andy chuckled twice. If he didn't know even that much, all his time playing World of Warcraft would have been wasted. He'd only been scared because he hadn't understood the situation. Anyone would be frightened if someone suddenly transformed into a beast right in front of them!

"Then who is your teacher?" Andy asked, hoping to learn a little more.

At the mention of her teacher, Hilar instinctively lifted her head proudly and said, "My teacher is Malfurion!"

"Malfurion Stormrage!" Andy tumbled off the running leopard. He really hadn't expected this. This little Druid's teacher was Malfurion, a famous figure in Azeroth!

"What happened? Why did you fall off?" Hilar asked as she doubled back.

"It's nothing, haha, nothing!" Andy said sheepishly. "Your teacher's name hit me like a punch."

Now it was Hilar's turn to be puzzled. At first the kid had been terrified, but now he acted as if he knew everything. With a belly full of questions, Hilar picked Andy up again and raced toward Darnassus.