I looked in relief. “Finally” The whisper cut through my dry and sore throat. I had been walking for hours now and didn’t find a single hint of life. The desert wasn’t just barren, it was devoid of anything living except for me.
Every step I made on my journey here made me more aware of the increasingly dire situation I found myself in. Fighting every step as my feet sank into the sand while trying to keep calm in the scorching desert sun. The sun was slowly getting too much to handle. The metal plating on my armor was getting warmer and almost unbearably so. My arms and legs were feeling the burning heat and the hot desert sand getting in my boots didn’t help with walking either.
Even though the desert cold left with the rise of the sun, I braced myself for the hours that lay ahead of me. But as the sun rose I felt my conviction starting to dry out like the water in my body. I can only hope I find a village or town soon.
In front of me was a road of sorts. One that was not paved but took shape after many people had traversed these parts.
“If there is a road, there must be people at the end of it.” My mind was still clear but my body desperately called out for water.
My internal Aether pool was something that hadn’t dried up yet. I managed to keep enough on reserve to help me survive when I would reach my limit. Even if just to prolong the inevitable. Water has always been one of my main affinities, and I have been doing my best not to give in to its calling as it would probably be my last option for survival.
“Well…” I said with a lack of energy that was audible if anyone else were here with me. “Here we go.”
I let out a sigh and closed my eyes, starting to focus on calming my mind.
I held my hands together in front of me, then turned the palms towards each other as my focus slowly moved to the space left in between. It may not have been the time for experimentation but I couldn’t get the events from earlier out of my mind. The way the Aether manipulated the molecules in the air that eventually ignited the flame that kept me warm, was just too much of a mystery to not experiment with.
It took longer but eventually it appeared. When I opened my eyes I saw that a ball of water, shimmering on the bright desert sun, had materialized in between my hands. The sight was fascinating and put a smile of relief on my face that pierced the tiredness that had set in on it.
“I was right–” A painful cough stopped my joy abruptly and it took me a second to calm down.“ So it was true, It is all based on molecules, just like Earth.”
I stepped on the road and looked around with the fresh ball of water still in my hand. Both ends of the road went on so far out that they disappeared over the horizon.
“Well this sucks. One end, hopefully, held salvation while the other end ment oblivion.” Looking at both sides, I already knew there was nothing that could make this an informed decision. I turned my body towards 1 of the directions the road went and started walking.
“Now, time to relieve me from my thirst for a little bit.” I held my hands, with the waterbal still in between, to my mouth and slowly drank it.
– 1 hour later
Still nothing. Did I seriously pick the wrong horizon to put my hopes on? My mind was showing signs of losing the little determination and energy that I had left. In the past hour, even if just for a fleeting moment, I felt the influence from Zeph. Though it is hard to make anything of it with our connection being as none-existent as the Aether in the air around me.
My vision became blurred and the harsh reality of a slowly fading life started to sink in. My head probably already accepted the end of the line was going to be this sad excuse for a struggle.
If I were to reach the end, couldn’t it just have been in some heroic battle to save all of humanity? Why do I have to reach this pitiful end in the middle of fucking nowhere after all these years I had to struggle to stay alive. Even worse, why did it have to my Aria? Why not myself? Why am I going to lose Aria?
My mind had finally broken down. My spirit was losing the battle for my sanity.
My legs finally gave way. My body going limp and my knees crashing in the burning sand. The impact sent me forward where my face dug into the ground. With my last bit of energy I managed to roll over, I would at least be able to breath my last breath without drowning in the sand.
Things around me started to get darker and the heat of the sand started to burn my skin even through my armor. My arms and legs were burning from sunburn now, even though Ignisara usually doesn't have to deal with that.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
“End of the line then.” I said as I looked at the clear blue sky, that I would normally welcome with open arms.
It wasn’t long before I heard a voice shouting from somewhere.
It seems my mind is playing tricks on me and in an effort to get a better view of what seems too good to be true, I rolled over as I tried to find a hint of hope. “There is no harm in checking thought.” I said as my view, still blurry, saw movement in the distance.
“HEY! ARE YOU OK?” a male voice called out casually but with a slight hint of concern. His tone shifted from as he saw me roll over, making it very clear that I was definitely NOT ok.
A wagon, pulled by 2 horses, abruptly stopped beside me and with swift movements, that revealed the urgency of the situation, the man leaped from his wagon. Kneeling next to me he rolled me on my back and tried to get me to sit upright.
The man cried out in pain as he touched my shoulder guards and instantly recoiled his hands while muttering “damn that is hot”. He walked over to the cart and got his gloves, hoping that it would protect his hands long enough to get me into the back of his wagon.
I couldn’t speak anymore but I could still partially see what was happening around me. The man came back and knelt beside. “I’m going to pick you up ok? I will put you in the back of my wagon and bring you to the nearby city.”
I could only shake my head at this point and nodded softly as the man picked me up carefully.
The man seemed to have experience with surviving in the desert as he ran around the wagon to the front to pick something up. When he returned he sat down on a box next to me and pulled my head up a little.
“Here, drink some water.” The man put a drinking bag to my lips and slowly pulled it up.
The moment the water reached my lips, I could feel my whole body cry for more.
He pulled the water away from my mouth as I tried to follow it for more but the man pushed me back.
“Don’t,” He said sternly but caringly. “You are most likely severely dehydrated and drinking too much, too fast will prove dangerous.” I looked at him and nodded.
“Th-thank you…” I whispered now that my throat felt a little better, even if just for a little bit.
“Don’t thank me yet. You are not out of danger, you know.” He put the drinking back back to my lips for a few more sips.
“Ok, that is enough for now. I will turn around the wagon and will get you checked by a doctor in the city.” He stood up and left the wagon and jumped on the front.
The wagon had a cover made with a cloth which kept the scorching sun at bay. The heat was still there though and even with the water I just drank, like the man said, I wasn’t completely safe yet.
It took the man what felt like an hour to get to the city. He stopped multiple times to give me some more water and as my body absorbed the fluids of life, I started to feel a lot better.
As the man approached the city a guard stopped him.
“Please stop the wagon for me.” One guard said as I heard him walk up to the man that saved me.
“Shouldn’t you be on your way to Kalimsha?” The second guard questioned. Their conversation hinting at familiarity between them.
This man must travel more often to seemingly know these guards. I thought as the man started to explain why he returned.
“On the road, about 50 minutes out, I found a woman laying on the road edge. When I came closer it was apparent she needed help immediately. So I put her in the back and drove back here.” The man sounded worried about me and finished his explanation with “I hope I am not too late.”
The back of the wagon opened up the low hatch that kept things from falling out and 1 of the guards entered.
“Miss? Are you ok?” I couldn’t really see his face but the voice had the sound of genuine care.
“No, not really, but I’m not dead yet.” A hint of a smile was on my face that hurt as I felt the sunburn really kicking in.
“Merek, clear the way and summon Eldric! We need an immediate escort to Elias for urgent care.”
“Will do!” Merek answered promptly. He ran to what I assumed to be the gate to the city where he called out his commands.
“Eldric!?” the guard called out with urgency and confusion as he was searching for his colleague..
“Yes sir!” I heard someone shout.
“Escord this wagon to Elias and make sure to do it fast. We have a female Ignisarian in critical condition.”
The card started moving and I could see the door to the city behind us now.
Seems like I will survive again. Just wish Zeph was here as well.
With the prospect of being with a doctor soon I could finally calm down completely.
I made one final effort to reach out to Zeph with my feelings that would convey something like “everything is going to be ok”.
The tiredness finally set in as I had been awake for over 24 hours now. My eyes slowly closed as my body could finally get some rest.