The wind vigorously hammered the top of the palm tree. The soft sound rattled peacefully with the constant runoff that the desert offered. Only, the water on the oasis is calm, deeply calm… Looking right into the old man's face, only a grimace face could be seen, sagged by the shape of his facial features. The eyes blurring out of Gahzo were the eyes of a disgusted man.

"Uh…that's kinda creepy..." he whispered.

"You want my... or… I think I'm too old for that!"

Khal looked at the confused man with contempt and palmed his face with his hands. The demon bird on him took flight and went to poke Gahzo's head– furiously. Constantly screaming: "Stupid man croaaa, Stupid man croaa."

Gahzo shouted in pain, running around to avoid the light blow on him.

"I don't deserve that; he is the creeping one! Craving for the body of a wrinkly married man!"

"That's ok Nemu, I will explain," answered the Dune walker calmly.

He took a seat under the shadow of a palm tree and took off the necklace on him. Nemu stopped attacking the old man and flew to a nearby tree, giving a break to the exhaust runner.

"I'm not asking for your body or whatever you have in your mind. "

"If it's not that, what do you mean by time?" said Gahzo, sitting in front of his speaker.

"My contractor is Heh, a god who can represent time or infinity for you mortals. I made a deal with him... To reach my goal, I need a part of the lifespan of differents mortal beings."

"I only heard of Heh inside old papyrus. A minor mythical god, one whose name is almost forgotten. I don't think he even has a door anymore! "

"Yeah, a "weak god" if you want. Whatever, gold is kinda optional for me… When I'm taking time, the client will grow by the age chosen. but I can't force myself on you. Only "you" can decide to give me time..."

Gahzo took a deep breath, knowing that he needed to make a decision. He lived a long and formidable life. He learned a lot as a child in the Sultan Ahmet Beni II library. He even had a family and prepared his mind for his coming death, but he only ever had one regret in his life. Since the enthronement of prince Bilal Beni III, the city of Rudhetria changed radically. Passing from a heretic metropolis full of thinkers to a place of celebration and decadence. He lost all his future position as a researcher to become this uninterested poor merchant. Can he let ten years slide, knowing that he would never attain his dream? Can he even achieve his goal? No, he still had a solution to pass through this mess! A sacrifice he can make…

"My son..."

"Your son?"

"Yeah… I give you... ten years of my son's life, Ali" Answered surely the resolved man. Knowing what he was doing and the consequences that came with it.

"Are you sure? That he will... "

"He will !" Shouted Gahzo. "He will… That's what he always desired…."

In his long life, Khal rarely had any confidence in man's word; but learned to read into the sight of humans. He understood… In the simple view of the eyes of the merchant. Without any word or even reaction, he stood up, put Bag on his back and began to walk.

The wrinkled man looked at the Deadman curiously, waiting for an answer or reaction. Any emotion that a human would make hearing his selfish decision. He was craving that little face that would put his misery in the spotlight. But the silence was painful…

"Stupid man croaa! Stupid man croaaa!" said the crow flying in the air.

"What are you waiting for, stupid ol' man… We have a long walk to Rudhetria," Answered Khal abruptly.

Indeed, what a stupid man was the old Gahzo...

---

only a few miles away from the city, a sustaining presence filled the atmosphere. Gahzo answered, claiming for the festivity sound and scent to have reached the hyper sense of the undead; But Khal was skeptical. His senses rarely deceive him. He had felt the door of Geb not far, but another god was there. A god that he knew well, Anubis…

When he reached the border of Rudhetria, the presence disappeared inside the calm and quiet zone of Geb. But, only the god's aura was pleasant; The city was boisterous and tumultuous, filled with joy and colour. All the tiny one-story buildings huddled at the side of the road. Nicely decorated with flowers of any kind. They were all connected and stretched to the center of the city. The old crackled house of the lower portion of the population changed for bright white and clean residence through the path. But one thing never changed. The city was covered with plants of all kinds, especially flowers. Many gigantic roots were growing all around, creating cultivable land where the inhabitants could plant a large variety of fruit.

Everybody was dancing and smiling, screaming with joy and excitement. Almost like their lives were perfect. Even the poorer ones talked loudly and looked well-nourished inside their old garments. The only grinning teeth was Gahzo, who took the time to explain the situation.

"Welcome to Rudhetria Dune Walker. A city with eternal festivities," said Gahzo.

"What do you mean by that?" Asked Khal intrigued

"Each night, we celebrate the Al Sahwa. As you probably know, millennia earlier, Gods were in the living realm, creating demons to guide lost souls to the death realm. Until the day when Ra, king of gods, created the deadliest demon in existence…."

" Apep, the reason why undeads are born… I know all of that!" cut Khal

"Please reach the end of the explanation quick."

"OK, OK, So Al Sahwa is the celebration of the battle against Ra and Apep made each night. From dusk to dawn, we all have parties all around the city. Still, everyone is so excited because it's also the anniversary of the death of the young prince Salian."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"So you celebrate the death of noble around here."

"Don't ask me. That's the stupidest reason they ever found out to have a party, " said Gahzo with ferocity.

"I don't dislike the sight..." answered Khal, looking at the happy kids dancing in the rhythm of the fanfare. " A lot don't have the chance to feast with the constant danger of Kamarupa."

"You're right; the city's economy is flourishing, and nobody ever lacks food. But that makes us weak… Without the benediction of Geb, I don't even know how our lazy army could fight Kamarupa."

Khal looked around and saw the scale of the problem. Even with the huge amount of people. Only a few guards could be seen, and only half were equipped with gold gears. This city indeed didn't consider the danger of the desert seriously.

"Where are we heading now?"

"To my shop just around the corner, my son is responsible for it when I'm not around. I am selling the fastest camel around. Even this old one is quite capable for his age and..."

"You mean this one?" answered Khal pointing at an old burning shack full of camels.

"By Geb, what is that!" screamed the old merchant running into the crowd.

"Ali, son of Gahzo, you will need a good explanation..."

"Oh, Gahzo, if you mean Ali, he's not here." reported another merchant not far away.

"A demon appeared when he was talking to a girl, burning your shop on the way. The guards were not around, and the beast seemed to have no other interest than the girl, so Ali pursued the creature with a wooden sword."

"And you did nothing to stop the fire or even Ali!"

"Why would any of us stop the fire burning the business of our rival? I also sell camels, dude." answered the man with a smile on his face.

Gahzo rushed at the man and punched him in his face before running to his camels. Pushing the bunch of people dancing around the shop like it's a fire of joy.

"Khal, Please help me with this fire. My son will give you..."

When he turned his head, Only Bag was standing around, barking like a dog.

"The demon bag... where is Khal?" he said, stretching his hand on the demon.

Then Bag opened his mouth and bit Gahzo's hands without hesitation…

---

Not far away, Khal ran from roof to roof. Scanning the area, to find a demon wandering in the quarter. Nemu flew by his side, screaming quickly.

"Search croaa, searchhh."

"Good idea Nemu" answered Khal

"lend me your view..."

At the sound of his voice, Nemu's eyes and he began to glow in a bright yellow. His mind started slowly to split in two. Merging on the demon crow.

A few seconds later, he was looking through his partner's eyes. Flying upon the busy city of Rudhetria. He quickly saw in a cramped alley two young adolescents in front of a minor demon of only 4 feet.

He looked like a hyena teint in pitch black, growling fiercely. A little trail of black smoke was coming out of his nose, ready to blow at any instant. The thing that caught the attention of Khal was the sign on his back. The symbol of the god Anubis...

The young boy grabbed his wooden sword and swung it to the creature to keep it far from him. Without fear, he tried to touch the demon repeatedly, but all his attacks kept falling in the air. He continues constantly and harder each time, to hit even one time the fast hyena. It was not enough to stop the determination of the boy. After a few attempts, he finally reached the monster's neck, jumping on a nearby wall to have the momentum. He hit the creature with all his strength, screaming from all his heart.

After the attack, he rolled on the ground and retook position in front of the girl behind, but the demon was in an almost perfect state, making him shiver on the way. Seeing him like that, the girl fell to the ground, revealing her hidden face.

A beautiful pure face with scarlet hair and green eyes. The total opposite of the black-haired boy with a poorer look.

"Ali, stop, you can't beat this thing!" Said the girl in panic.

"I promised… I promised that I would protect you… So I will!" answered the son of Gahzo. Running onto Anubis creation.

Then the creature began to inhale the air in mass. A cloud of black smoke appeared again from its nose and this time even bigger. And in a moment, flames were exhaling from its mouth. Right before it reached Ali, Nemu flew and pushed the young man to the ground. The wooden sword burned into ashes in an instant. The two teens were frozen in fear. Khal, talking through Nemu, warned them: "That's just the first blow croaa, prepare to jump on the second croaa." The monster began to inhale again.

"Wh.. wha… What…" asked the girl

"Jump now! Croaaaa!"

The creature spat fire again in the direction of the red-haired girl. She dove to the side, almost burning her cape while escaping. Ali softened her fall and took her in his arms. The fire began to reach the building around, and a ringing fire alert rose in the district. Now they were surrounded by a fierce fire without any escape road. The Hyena demon began to slowly inhale, longer, longer and longer. His throat grew visibly. At his limit, he spat a large quantity of smoke and prepared to launch the offensive.

"I love you, Ali," murmured the girl.

"I love you too, Camelia."

Then a silhouette appeared from the fire.

"Not on my watch!" screamed Khal smashing on his enemy.

He used the chain he created on his way and closed the creature's neck with it. Attaching his mouth firmly, sparkling began to appear on the beast's nose. Khal instantly summoned a bouncy demon he called Nitat. On the order of the Dune walker, the monster began to enlarge until he covered Khal and the lovers. A few seconds later, the hyena demon exploded in a blazing red fire. Destroying everything around. But the undead and the kids were safely hidden behind the devil of Heh. Khal made the big creature disappear and looked at the rest of the hyena.

"Anubis… What can grab your attention in this city?"

"Thank you… Thank you very much!" told Ali to Khal.

"You saved us!"

"Look at you, reckless like you are, thinking you can cut a demon without gold. I only made it because of the reward. I don't like stupid boys who can't make wise decisions."

"I… I don't understand?" whispered the confused boy

"We will talk about it with your father, come."

" Father? Wait, I need to bring her back to…."

"Don't even try to move, silly boy!" shouted a distant voice. The earth started to shake, and massive roots rose from the ground. Stretching themselves on the girl, Camelia. Khal succeeded in cutting the first roots, protecting himself and Ali, but lost the girl to the hands of the plants. A man appeared from the sky, dashing on Ali. The black Walker jumped and intercepted the attack right before it reached the boy. But lost his left hand on the way. Letting black blood flow from his hip.

"Camelia!" Screamed Ali, running to his lover. However, the mysterious attacker blocked his way and kicked him strongly. Making him fly through the arm of the weakened Khal.

"Saan! Stop that, please!"

"Shut up princess, the Sultan ordered me to protect you. I will take you back and kill the boy who put you in danger."

"That's false! He doesn't even care about me. I can handle it myself."

"Shut up, Camelia," cut Saan firmly.

The man called Saan wore black baggy pants with a short white shirt. On him, a long green cape lined with Geb signs, hidden the shine of a multitude of gold necklaces reflecting the light of the fire around him. His face was pale and distinguished, with green eyes and hair of the same colour. However, only one thing caught the attention of Khal: A green trail of sand was surrounding the man, floating around him…

Saan approached Khal calmly and looked right into his eyes. The injury was already beginning to heal, and Khal had summoned his gear of predilection: a long curved black sword, a scimitar and a long chain. But the chain was short because of the lack of sand around.

"I would never have expected to see such a precious guest, protect a simple peasant," asked Saan.

"I would never have expected to see a Dune Walker here…" answered Khal

"You are serious? It's not rare to see a King or Sultan hiring a Dune Walker. Are you new in this business or...?"

"You talk too much…."

Then in the sky, a gigantic spherical demon appeared marked by the sign of Anubis. Diving right into the direction of the group… It only took a few seconds, and the battlefield turned into chaos. Using the confusion to his advantage, Khal ran far off the scene, bringing Ali on his side. The other Walker looked at him flee with hesitation but instead turned his mind on the girl. Many guards appeared in gold armour and took positions ready to act.

"What are you waiting for?" said Saan.

"ATTACK!"

The 10 men jump on the demon and strike consecutively. Cutting him non-stop, but the blade didn't go further than his mere skin. This action only angered the Deadman, who created two short swords on each of his hands, ready to retaliate. He covered each of them with Ankh and prepared his attack, but the demon disappeared right before he could slice it. Letting only a black smoke behind. The monster had vanished mysteriously…

A few meters away, Ali struggled furiously in the arms of Khal. Trying to untie himself from his grab.

"Let me go! Camelia is still there!"

"Just stay calm. It was a diversion. This demon is different from the other…."

"I don't care, let me go!"

tired of hearing him, Khal stopped his impulse and threw him on the ground.

"I told you that everything will be fine. I'll make it disappear soon."

"What do you mean?"

"I called this Anubis demon… He only has an interest in me..."

"You… you can summon Anubis demon…" murmured the scared Ali.