Maria gasped for air greedily as soon as her face resurfaced above the air. Her hands, which were busy the entire time removing the sand covering her face, finally got a rest for some moments. She gasped for air two more times until her lungs were satisfied with its greed. Her heart, again, beat like a walk in the garden after the return of fresh cool air. She thought she was going to die.

While the camp was under attack by the legendary monster, she was out in the desert four dunes away from the camp. She was forced to wake up by a fight in her stomach. As someone who has only grown up inside the mansion and the palace, the food from the desert didn't agree with her. She attempted to wake Louise up but he was sleeping so soundly after a tiring trip so she felt bad to wake him up. Alone, she searched for the toilet. However, the camp didn't have a private restroom in the building so she went out to the desert. She climbed a dune and saw the guards patrolling around the camp. The moon was full so the night was as bright as the torches were lighted even out in the desert. There weren't any bushes or plants to take cover either. Feeling shy, she decided to go further out, unaware of the danger.

Alone, she took care of her business. She felt safe even though she had heard some venomous animals of the desert hunting at night. For her, the eyes of humans were scarier. Also, for some luck, she didn't encounter any of those notorious animals. "Maybe my father was wrong." She thought to herself. She didn't know a scorpion was eyeing her behind the sand for invading its territory.

At that moment, she noticed the sand on the dune behind her started to fall. She ignored it as she returned to her eminent business troubling her stomach. She thought it was because she stepped on there and nothing serious. She didn't know it was caused by the tremor caused by the approaching centuriworm.

The scorpion, aware of the danger coming, jumped out from hiding and ran away. It passed her between her legs. She screamed out of her wit upon seeing the scorpion. She fell backwards leaning onto the dune. She pressed her heart in an attempt to keep it still in her chest. "Oh for lord's sake. You scare me!" She yelled to the scorpion. "My heart nearly jumped out of my chest." While she was busy catching her heart, the sand started to fall like a waterfall from the top of the dune. It collapsed due to the tremor and fell onto Maria, burying her alive. She tried to get up but she was too late. The sand covered her completely within seconds.

It became pitch black. The bright moon could no longer be seen. Her vision was blocked by the sand. She struggled to move but the sand was too heavy for her lean legs. The long skirt didn't help either. It added the weight. She breathed slowly hoping to calm herself down but the tip of her nose couldn't sense any air either. She realised that she could die alone under the freezing sand without anyone ever noticing what happened to her.

Louise suddenly came into her mind, and so was her father. What would they do if she suddenly disappeared like that? She got worried. "I can't die here like this. Not yet. If I am going to die, I want to give them some closure at least."

With determination, she tried to free herself again. She wriggled her body and legs, attempting to move the sand away from her body. Each struggle cost her breath, losing her air. Her mind started to slip away. It was pitch black but she could see Louise. Her father was touching her hand, caressing her gently.

"No. This isn't real. I am still beneath the sand. They can't be here." She recollected herself. With all the strength, she lifted her hands out of the sand. She was breathless. Her chest felt choking. Her throat was screaming to breathe. Yet her hands never stopped.

Suddenly, she could feel the cold fresh air brushing her hands. They were finally free. She quickly removed the sand over her face until the tip of her nose sensed the same sensation her hands felt. Then she grasped in the air greedily. The cold air ran down her dry throat. It hurt but she couldn't get enough of it.

Slowly, she removed the rest of the sand over her body and freed herself. It took a while since the sand from above kept falling again and again after each tremor. After she had finally freed herself, she started to notice the screaming and the fighting in the distance. It came from the direction of the camp and those screaming were not the ones from cheering. They were of anguish and suffering. "Louise! It can't be."

She headed back to the camp with a heavy heart. It became heavier when she approached nearer. She wasn't ready yet to see the horror on the other side of the dune. What if Louise was dead? She would be left alone without anyone. She left the palace with Louise against everything she knew; her faith, the Temple, her father, the Goldfield family, and the riches.

At that moment, she heard a very loud thunderous clap followed by the silence. She held her breath and took the last step to view the camp. It was in ruins. The building she was resting in earlier had completely collapsed. The building Louise was supposed to be. Her heart sank. The sound of fighting had diminished too. It was dead silence. She didn't see anyone either. "Louise." Her voice cracked. Her lips were dry and her hands were trembling. She was scared, to be left alone. Her knees dropped to the sand in despair. She wished she had died earlier. She took out a small knife from her waist and aimed at her wrist.

The moment she put the blade on her skin, she heard a very loud cheer along with the chanting of the name of God's warrior across the dune in the south.

"Ethan! Ethan! Ethan! Ethan!"

Hope re-established in her heart. "They are alive," mumbled Maria. She threw the knife away and ran up the dune to be reunited with Louise, only to be arrested by a serious accusation.

Cleo

"She must be the traitor."

Cleo accused Maria of betraying them by informing the location of their camp as soon as she saw Maria reuniting with them unharmed. She called her small council to give a verdict on Maria's case. The main building was destroyed so they did it in one of the small tents which were still intact. The rest were given to women and children to rest the night while the men rested out on the sand.

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Since the moment Maria came with them from Midlake City, Cleo didn't trust Maria. She believed Maria had an ulterior motive.

A lady-in-waiting who enjoyed the luxuries of the palace wouldn't leave everything behind to go with a man who lost everything; especially when that woman's lineage was Goldfields. They profited the most through the Temple. A Goldfield would never turn their backs against Mordu'.

The camp was safely hidden in the desert for many years even though the population had risen to hundreds. Then, Maria came for a day and the camp was attacked.

"Not to mention she was away somewhere safe when we were attacked. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?" Cleo asked Louise who was defending Maria. No one in the small council stood by the side of Maria either. No Gura, no Elba, not even Luther. They all believed Maria was the most possible suspect who gave out their location to Temple. "There isn't anyone who can vouch for her story, is there? She went alone to take care of her stomach problem. Come on. As a woman myself, I can say that's bullshit. We all tend to call at least one friend to go together with us." Cleo responded to Maria's story. Abel nodded her head, agreeing with Cleo.

"We must get rid of her."

Louise didn't agree. He asked for proof. "Our justice system decides upon undeniable evidence. Not on a speculation. It must not be swayed by the pressure of the general public either. Just because everyone agrees with you doesn't mean Maria is guilty. How is that fair for Maria who fought for her life just earlier? You don't believe her, was it because she was alone or she is a Goldfield?" Louise questioned her prejudice. "You can't prove she informed the Temple, can you, sister? I mean how is that possible for Maria to inform the Temple across the desert? How?" Louise argued.

"Pigeons," answered Abel, "specially trained pigeons can cross the desert. We do it all the time."

"But you didn't see a pigeon on her when she came to desert with me, did you?"

"Well. ... Maybe she hid it under her skirt," answered Abel after scratching her head. Cleo responded with a nod. She hid her blades under her skirt, attaching them to her thighs, whenever she had to go out secretly in Midlake. The garments were thick and made in several layers so it was hard for others to notice. It was also the reason why her swords were shorter compared to Ethan's and to compensate her reach, she used twin blades.

"Damnit Abel," swore Louise angrily for getting in his way. He glared at her with the corners of his eyes. "As a woman yourself, do you think it is possible to climb a mountain and cross the desert when there is a living pigeon between your legs? Do you think she is a whore like your mother?" Louise yelled. In a rage, he said something he shouldn't say to the mother of his best friend. Abel was shocked to hear that from Louise's mouth while Luther clenched his fist. For the first time in life, he wanted to punch Louise's face for good.

Abel was the daughter of Arthur born from Arthur's mistress. Arthur married her mother later when the first wife passed away but Abel was still regarded as a bastard among the peer of royalties. For Luther, when he was adopted by Arthur, Abel's mother took care of him like her own son.

Cleo slapped Louise. The sudden escalation became quite uncomfortable for the rest. Gura, Jonah and Elba looked at each other, not sure whether to give them some space or meddle in. They wished Ethan was here but Ethan was taking a rest after the fight.

Louise was out of words at the shocking treatment from his cousin's sister. He felt humiliated. He was the king but it was Cleo who made decisions for the throne behind the scenes and he relied on her like an older sister.

"Enough, Louise! How could you say that to Abeline? You are hurting your friend for a woman you just met? Are you out of your mind? Get some grip!" Cleo yelled madly at Louise. "You are a king. Don't get confused and lose your sight because of a woman."

"A king?" Louise responded with a scoff. "When was I ever a king? When was the last time you listened to me? You always force your thoughts to me. You are- you are as manipulative as lord Hammond. Or-or lord Mordu'," said Louise.

Rage had blinded both Adders. They hurt each other which they never thought they would.

Tears of anger flowed down Cleo's cheeks. She couldn't believe Louise would take the side of another woman over his sister. She rubbed them off quickly so that the others wouldn't notice. She could hide the tears but she couldn't hide the sniff.

Louise noticed his sister who had never cried was crying because of him. He knew he hurt her. He felt sorry but he couldn't say it. The words didn't come out. His pride stopped him.

The situation was tense and uncomfortable. Gura stood there with a report about the initial assessment of damage to the camp and was contemplating changing the subject with it. Jonah gave a pass with a slight nod so he stepped forward with a heavy heart. The next item wasn't good news either. The assessment said they lost their food and water storage. The oasis was no longer drinkable. The potions made by Elba were lost along with the main building. Elba said he would try to salvage as much as he could but Gura knew nothing much could be done. Above all else, the worst was they lost ten men and seventeen women and children. If Cleo blamed Maria for the loss, the situation might become worse.

At that moment, they heard a commotion outside, yelling for help. "Mr.Elba. Mr.Elba, please save my mother!!" The man asked for Elba, so the people pointed to the tent. The man rushed into the tent without permission.

"Mr. Elba, please save my mother," said Signard, "Indran is on fire!"