John slowly opened his eyes and saw the bright sun shining down on him. He was lying in the middle of a sandy desert, with nothing but miles of barren land around him. He tried to move, but his body was weak and sore. It took him a while to remember what had happened - he had been travelling across the desert when a sandstorm had hit him. He had been knocked unconscious and left stranded.

He looked around and saw a group of people approaching him. They were dressed in long, flowing yellowish robes, and their faces were covered with a simple brown cloth. They blended extremely well with the surrounding yellowish sand. John's first thought was that they were bandits, but as they got closer, he saw that they were nomads. They were carrying water saches, with some of them carrying baskets filled with fruits and vegetables.

"Welcome, traveler," one of them said smiling in a pure and honest manner. "We found you lying unconscious in the sand, and we brought you here to our camp. You are safe now."

John felt relieved and grateful. He sat up and looked around. The camp was small, with a few tents made of animal skin. There was a fire burning in the middle, and some of the nomads were cooking food. John realized that he was starving, and his mouth watered at the sight of the food.

The nomads noticed John's hunger and chuckled, and they offered him some food and water. He ate hungrily, savoring the taste of the fresh fruits and vegetables. He had never tasted anything like it before it tasted soft yet very refreshing.

As he ate, the nomads patiently told him about their way of life. They were a group of people who roamed the desert happy to share their story with those willing to lend a ear. The nomads explained how they lived off the barren land of the desserts. They had no permanent homes or possessions, but they were happy and content with what they had. They showed John how to survive in the treacherous desert, teaching him how to find water and shelter.

John was amazed by their knowledge and skill. He had always lived in the city, surrounded by technology and comfort. He was impressed that people could live like this, in the middle of nowhere.

The nomads mentioned the Royal family of the human kingdom known as Delfiora. They explained how the human kingdom had managed to create livable regions for the people of the Sandsea region through the art of magic. They had gained foothold after foothold, creating giant blue shields guarding the human city's, providing a safe place for the people to live. John was fascinated by the idea of magic, something that he still found alien to himself.

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John asked about the current situation of the human kingdom, and the nomads mentioned rumors of discord between the current crown prince Julias Delfiora and princess Isabella Delfiora. Princess Isabella was also a priest of the covenant of light, which was very much against the demon king invasion happening around the world of Arathia. The nomads explained how the humans were constantly fighting more and more against the demons, trying to keep them from taking over the kingdom.

Finally, the nomads told John about increased sightings of desert demons. They were creatures that looked like nomads from afar clothed in yellowish looking cloth but upon coming closer one would discover them to be wearing brittle cloth that came pared with a scythe that they carried with them. John brows scrunched together in a frown before easing up.

The nomads noticed this and explained that the demons were a constant threat to the humans. They were powerful and dangerous, and they had to be avoided at all costs. The nomads face saddened, they had encountered them a few times, suffering several casualties each time. They showed John some of the weapons they used to defend themselves, and he was impressed by their will to survive.

John let out a heavy sigh, feeling a sense of solemnness wash over him. He had spent several weeks with these nomads, eventually learning about their simple yet fulfilling way of life. The desert had a way of making him feel small and insignificant, and being among these people had made him question the values and priorities of his former life.

As the sun began to rise on the horizon, John's heart sank a little. He knew he had to continue his journey, but he felt a sense of melancholy at the thought of leaving the nomads behind. They had shown him kindness and hospitality when he needed it most, and he had grown fond of their way of life.

Taking a deep breath, John gathered his belongings and readied himself to continue his adventure. He knew that he would carry the memories of his time with the nomads with him, and that they had left a lasting impression on him.

After John left there emerged a figure from the darkness, he had been observing John with a soft smile all this while. Making sure on keeping a watchful eye on John since the beginning of his journey, using his magic to guide and protect him from the dangers that lurked in the desert. He had watched John grow not only as the chosen one of Arathia, but also as a person.

As John stood outside of the tent prepared to continue his adventure, the hidden protector retreated back into the shadows, leaving behind an aura of enigma and secrecy that lingered in the air.