The rest of the day was spent in travel. No one wanted the assassins to catch up with them from the city they had just fled, so it was in their best interest to continue moving. Eugene had moved outside to the seat at the front of the automobile for a more comfortable driving position.
Several hours passed in near silence as the automobile showed why it was superior to ordinary carriages. Its speed was greater, and its endurance was also many times better. They moved through the desert at a brisk, but steady pace.
Eventually, night came and they had to stop. The temperature in the desert often dropped to freezing levels at night, so it was best that they stopped and prepared to spend the night.
While Eugene could keep going, he wanted to exploit this moment so Gustavo could rest properly. Even May, who was an ordinary human, was very tired mentally. She had been on edge all through the day.
"Young master, why are we stopping?" When Gustavo felt the vehicle come to a stop, he sat up with some difficulty.
"We need to rest. You need to rest." Eugene said as he came into the carriage from the front. He saw Gustavo standing up with May's support.
"We need to keep moving. We can't let them catch up with us." Gustavo said.
"You're right. But what if we keep moving and they still catch up with us? If you rest now, then at least we can stand a chance if they do find us." Eugene said with a final tone that showed he was not entertaining any arguments.
Gustavo could only sigh in defeat. He knew that he could argue more, but he did not want to.
"Fine, we'll do as you wish, young master." He said.
With Gustavo's agreement, Eugene and May quickly set up a makeshift fire. It was a bit difficult, but May seemed to have some experience with this and quickly did it. Eugene brought out some of the supplies he had taken from the palace kitchen and shared it around.
It was dry seasoned meat. They could eat it as it was, along with some water to wash it down.
The mood was glum and down, but there was nothing anyone could do to alleviate it. Eugene had lost his father and city in less than twenty four hours. Gustavo had failed his mission twice and was now declining in strength. May had just lost everything that she had known for her entire life.
"Young master... If I may ask something..." May began, but trailed off and did not complete her question.
"What is it?" Eugene turned to her.
"I... Why did you bring me with you? You could have just left me back there." She eventually mustered the courage to speak up.
"..." Eugene paused to think. "It was because there was no chance to drop you off after we left the palace. It would have been too dangerous for us to stop even for a moment." He replied after a few moments.
"Oh. I see." May let out a sigh that Eugene did not understand. She stood up and dusted down her gown. "Good night, young master." She turned and entered the automobile too.
Eugene sat back and leaned against the side of the automobile. He looked up into the bright and starry sky with a sigh of sadness. His gaze was fixed in the sky for an indeterminate amount of time, and when he looked back down, he was stunned to see that the entire surrounding area of the automobile was covered in white fog!
What was even more shocking was that there was a robed figure sitting right opposite Eugene!
"Who are you?!" Eugene jumped up and held up his glaive. He kept it whole so it gave him a longer reach as he pointed it at the unknown person.
"Eugene Sandwall... There is no need to be startled. Sit." The robed figure spoke with a powerful gravitas in his voice. An invisible pressure pressed against Eugene's body and made him do as the person said.
He sat down.
"Good." The person laughed and raised up a hand. Eugene's eyes followed the dry and sickly looking hand as it rose to the hood of the robe and pulled it down, revealing the old and wrinkled face of an old man.
"Who are you?" Eugene asked again, this time with a greater hint of fear in his tone. He knew without a doubt that this person possessed the power to kill him and his traveling companions any moment now.
"I am a certain individual. My name does not matter, but you can call me Holmes." The old man smiled. "I have taken interest in the burning flames of revenge that simmer deep in your heart." He said.
Eugene gulped. "What do you want with me?" He asked, his voice turning into a whisper.
"What I want is quite simple, really." The old man said and stood up from the small stone he was seated on. "I want to make a deal with you." The man said.
"What deal?"
"Simple. I give you a bit of my power in exchange for watching your journey for revenge. The stronger you grow, the more of my power you get. Until you accomplish your goal." The old man explained as he walked around with a cane that had appeared in his hand. "And get this, if you succeed, then you can keep that bit of my power that you have gained." He grinned, revealing sharp teeth.
It was then that Eugene realized that he was not speaking with an ordinary person.
He was talking to a Demon!
"What do you say?" The old man asked.
"..." Eugene swallowed saliva, unable to speak. Demons were bad news. But this one had presented a good deal for him. The only thing he was not sure of was what kind of power it would give him, and if it needed anything in return aside from watching his journey, as it had said.