"That's the creepy animal I was talking about," Aster called down, his voice trembling slightly.

Leon kept his eyes locked on the beast, moving in a slow circle to keep it at bay. "Where did you even find it?" he asked, frustration lacing his tone.

"It, uh... actually found me," Aster confessed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was out hunting like I said last night. I found a xerocole to catch, but then that thing walked up next to me and tried to eat me. It chased me all the way here, so I climbed up the mountain to get away."

Leon shook his head, still watching the creature’s every move. "So why didn’t you wait for it to leave before coming down?"

"Yeah, about that... it decided to stick around," Aster replied, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "It just wouldn’t leave until it saw me try to climb down."

"Right," Leon muttered under his breath. As he spoke, the sand cat monster lunged at him. He swiftly sidestepped with a sharp weave.

Leon shouted, "Sand Trap!" The ground beneath the creature shifted and churned, forming a whirlpool of sand that quickly trapped the beast, pinning it down. As the sand lion struggled, Aster climbed down from his perch, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Well, that solves one problem," Aster said, dusting himself off. "So, what do we do with it now? I say we kill it and take its meat."

"No, we’re not doing that," Leon replied firmly. "We’re going to send it back where it belongs."

Aster frowned. "Are you serious? That thing might attack again if you let it go."

"Just watch," Leon said calmly.

With a deep breath, he extended his hand, channeling his sand magic. The sand surrounding the lion began to shift, releasing its grip but gently pushing the creature away. Leon carefully controlled the flow, making sure not to injure the beast as he urged it back into the desert.

The sand lion paused, its red eyes fixed on them one last time before it turned and sprinted off into the dunes, disappearing into the horizon.

"See?" Leon said with a satisfied grin.

Aster threw his hands up in frustration. "Damn it, Leon! Why would you do that?!"

"What did I do now?" Leon asked, bewildered.

"We could’ve had food! Now we're going to starve out here!" Aster snapped.

Leon shook his head with a sigh. "Calm down. We’ll find something to eat. We just have to look."

He scanned the area for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "Look over there." He pointed toward a thick patch of brush filled with a variety of colorful berries.

Aster's expression softened. "Well, I guess that’s better than nothing," he muttered, already heading toward the bushes to gather their new find.

They picked all the berries they could find, stuffing their bags before popping a few into their mouths. The berries were plump and juicy, bursting with flavors as varied as their colors—deep purples, vibrant reds, blues, oranges, and yellows.

Aster scrunched his nose and held out a handful of bright orange berries. "Here, take these. I can’t stand the taste."

Leon shrugged, happily taking them. "More for me, then."

After finishing their impromptu feast, they felt refreshed and ready to move on. Leon dusted off his hands and said, "Alright, time to pack up."

They quickly took down their tents and secured their gear. With everything stowed away, they mounted their camel and continued southward. After several more hours of travel, they finally reached a lush, green area. In the distance, the crumbling remains of an ancient temple peeked out from the dense foliage.

"Hey, looks like we made it out of the desert," Leon said with a relieved sigh.

"Finally! I was getting sick of all that sand," Aster muttered.

"Let's take a break before moving on. I want to check out that temple," Leon suggested, already eyeing the ruins with curiosity.

As they dismounted and began to unpack, hidden figures moved silently among the trees, their eyes fixed on the pair. The leaves rustled ever so slightly.

Minutes passed, and Aster sat on a chopped-down tree, sharpening his sword with rhythmic strokes. "Where the hell is Leon? He should’ve—"

Before he could finish his thought, a sudden, sharp pain like a needle piercing his neck made him flinch.

"Wha—?" he gasped, his vision blurring as the world around him began to spin. He tried to reach for the spot where he was struck, but his limbs felt heavy, unresponsive.

His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. his body slumped forward as unconsciousness claimed him. Aster’s eyes shot open, and his breath caught in his throat. He was hanging upside down, ropes tightly bound around his feet, the world spinning as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. His heart pounded in his chest.

Panic set in as he frantically scanned the area. His eyes landed on Leon, chained to an old stone pillar, his body slumped and unmoving. The sight made Aster's chest tighten.

“Leon!” he shouted, but his voice came out strained, barely more than a whisper.

A group of humanoid beings emerged from the dense jungle, each adorned with vibrant red flowers spinning atop their heads. Their skin was a striking blend of earthy tones, seamlessly merging with the surrounding foliage. These were the Ginkkins, a tribe renowned for their otherworldly appearance.

The Ginkkins spoke in a language flowing with melodic tones. One of them stepped forward, their flower spinning rapidly as they made a gesture toward Aster. The others murmured in unison, their words unfamiliar and their meaning lost to him.

Aster, feeling uneasy, spoke up. "Let me down. Who are you people?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Without a word, one of the Ginkkins leapt up the tree, untied the rope, and dropped Aster to the ground with a soft thud. The others watched him intently, their gaze unblinking. Aster, uncomfortable but resolute, stood up and faced them, trying to appear firm despite his uneasiness.

"Okay, can you guys understand me?" Aster asked, his voice edged with frustration.

The Ginkkins remained silent.

"I'm Aster, from the City of Scorching Wastelands," he continued, pointing toward Leon. "This is my friend, Leon. We arrived here to rest from our travels. Now, I’m going to go release him."

Aster took a step toward Leon, but the Ginkkins moved to block his path.

"Are you serious?" one of them said, a hint of disbelief in their voice.

Before Aster could respond, one of the Ginkkins suddenly darted off, running toward the jungle.

Aster watched the figure disappear into the trees. "Where is that one going?" he muttered, puzzled.

Aster tried to move toward Leon again, but each time, the Ginkkins stepped in his way, blocking his path with unwavering precision. Frustrated, he glanced around, trying to figure out a way to reach his friend.

Just then, the Ginkkin who had run off earlier returned, accompanied by an older, more weathered figure. The new arrival exuded a sense of quiet wisdom.

"Who’s that?" Aster asked, eyeing the elder curiously.

The elder raised a hand, motioning for the others to step back. "Step back, my child," he said in a calm, authoritative tone.

Aster blinked in surprise. "What... you can speak English?"

The elder’s eyes glinted with quiet amusement. "Of course I can. I see your glee about that.”

"Finally. Now I can get to business. WHY WERE WE HANGING FROM TREES LIKE SLOTHS?!" Aster shouted, frustration bubbling over.

The Ginkkins tensed, their expressions hardening at his outburst. Several began to advance, clearly angered by the tone, but the elder raised a hand, silencing them with a calm, gentle wave.

"I understand your irritation," the elder said, his voice soothing. "For that, I am deeply sorry. We believed you and your friend were intruders, coming into our jungle with malicious intent."

"Malicious intent? We had no malicious intent!" Aster said, his frustration growing. "We simply arrived, and my friend spotted a ruined temple. We decided to take a break, and then your child showed up and knocked me out."

"My apologies once again," the elder said, his voice steady and measured. "It is just that we have faced many intruders in the past—those who came to our jungle with violence in their hearts. They scared away the wildlife and took the lives of many of our people. We did not know you or your friend, and so we mistook you for threats. I cannot fault my child for acting in defense."

Aster lowered his gaze for a moment, then lifted his eyes to meet the elder's. "I understand. My apologies for raising my voice."

The elder gave a nod, his features relaxing. "It's understandable. I, too, would be upset if I were left hanging from a tree."

Aster offered a brief, acknowledging nod before asking, "So, where are our armor and camels?"

"At the front of the temple," the elder answered calmly.

"Okay, can you please release my friend?" Aster asked, his tone still tense.

"Of course," the elder replied. With a simple motion, he summoned a small wooden stick and muttered, "Release." Instantly, the chains on Leon vanished, and he fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Aster knelt beside his friend, glancing up at the elder. "He hasn’t woken up yet."

"No need to worry," the elder said calmly. "He will awaken in time. He’s been infused with our special poison."

"Poison?!" Aster exclaimed, his eyes widening.

"Yes, but it's not harmful," the elder reassured him. "It simply puts him to sleep, that's all."

"Oh, all right then," Aster said, still processing everything. "Ah, by the way, may I ask your name?"

The elder nodded with a calm smile. "My name is Gen, the Keeper of the Ginkkins Jungle, and the protector of the Ginkkin people. Yours, lad.”

"My name is Aster, Captain of the City of Scorching Wastelands," Aster introduced himself.

"Ah, the Scorching Wastelands," Gen said thoughtfully. "I've heard of that place in my younger days."

"Really? What did you hear?" Aster asked, intrigued.

"Very nice things," Gen replied. "They say it’s remarkable to have a city in the middle of a massive desert, and that the city itself is vast and impressive."

Aster smiled, his curiosity piqued. "Maybe you should stop by and see the city for yourself. You and your child could come along."

Gen chuckled softly. "Oh no, lad, I’m far too old to travel long distances. Besides, I like being here in my jungle. It brings me comfort."

"I understand," Aster replied with a thoughtful nod.

Gen turned to him, his expression serious. "Aster, follow me."

"Where to?" Aster asked, his curiosity piqued.

"To a place known only to a few," Gen said cryptically. "A secret."

Aster hesitated, his concern for Leon surfacing. "Okay, but what about Leon? He's still unconscious."

In response, Gen began speaking in his native tongue, his words flowing in a melody unknown to Aster. The other Ginkkins, understanding their leader’s command, nodded in unison before gently lifting Leon’s limp form.

Aster watched, confused and uneasy. "Where are they taking him? What's going to happen to him?"

"Don't worry," Gen reassured him. "They're returning him to your camels. Now, come. It’s time to follow."

Aster followed Gen, the Keeper of the Ginkkins Jungle, weaving through the dense jungle’s maze of vines and towering trees. The air was thick with the scent of earth and foliage as they made their way deeper into the shadows. Finally, they arrived at an ancient, weathered temple half-consumed by the jungle's relentless embrace.

They stepped inside, the air cooling instantly as they entered. Torches along the walls flickered to life, casting an amber glow that illuminated the stone corridors. At the end of the dim hallway stood a massive stone door, its surface covered in intricate carvings. At its center was an engraving of a hand, as if inviting someone to unlock its secrets.

Aster furrowed his brow. "What is this place?"

Gen's gaze was solemn. "This is a hidden door that has been here for centuries. We, the Ginkkins, have tried for decades to open it. But as you can see," he gestured to the hand-shaped engraving, "our hands cannot fit within the outline."

Turning to Aster, Gen spoke with a hopeful glimmer in his eyes. "Aster, would you be so kind as to try? Perhaps your hand will be the perfect fit."

Aster hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright... I'll give it a shot." He approached the door, his heart pounding with curiosity. Slowly, he pressed his hand into the carved indentation. To his surprise, it fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for him.

As Aster pressed his hand into the engraving, the stone door glowed softly. Ancient gears groaned, and with a deep rumble, the door slid open. Aster and Gen exchanged a glance before stepping inside.

The vast chamber was dimly lit by crystals embedded in the ceiling. Along the walls, intricate drawings depicted cryptic scenes.

Aster’s eyes widened. "What are these?" he asked.

Gen studied the faded images, then pointed to a prominent figure surrounded by celestial symbols.

Saturn," Gen said quietly.

Aster tilted his head, confused. "What did you say?"

Gen repeated, his voice filled with reverence. "These drawings depict Saturn, the Planet Lord. He was the father of Mercury and a being of immense power. These are his markings, left here long ago."

Aster stared at the drawings, trying to comprehend the significance. "Why would they be hidden here in your jungle?"

Gen shook his head, puzzled. “I have no clue. This is very odd.”

As Aster continued to explore, he approached a wall with a drawing of a golden circlet. Curiosity piqued, he pressed his hand against it. Suddenly he fell down the ground revealing it had been an illusion. Staggering forward, Aster caught his breath and noticed a hidden passage.

Venturing deeper, he spotted a small box resting on a pedestal. “A box?” he thought, brow furrowed. Carefully, he opened it to reveal a gleaming golden shard inside.