Under the vast, star-strewn sky, Malin, Abel, and Maya made camp for the night. A gentle, cool breeze swept over the desert, bringing much-needed relief from the relentless heat of the day. The trio sat around a small fire, its orange glow casting flickering shadows on their faces as they took a moment to rest their aching bodies and savour the quiet of the night. Each of them had thoughts swirling about the daunting journey that lay ahead and the mysterious dangers they’d face, but one thought loomed above the rest—the great dragon that guarded Shar-Kesh.

Malin stretched his legs and leaned back, glancing between Abel and Maya with a nervous grin. "Alright, so… a dragon. I've been trying not to think about it, but we're really going up against one, huh?" he laughed, though there was an anxious tremor in his voice. "What do you think it’s like? I mean… do dragons even exist?"

Abel chuckled, resting his hands on his knees, his eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and mischief. “Oh, dragons are very real, Malin. Legends say they’re as ancient as the mountains, as old as the sands themselves. But this one… the Guardian of Shar-Kesh… well, I imagine it’s no ordinary dragon.” He glanced at Maya, a grin tugging at his lips. “Maya, care to theorize? You’ve read those dusty old books.”

Maya rolled her eyes but smiled, leaning forward to share her thoughts. “Dragons have been described in a lot of ways. Some say they’re massive, scaled beasts with breath that can melt stone. Others say they’re intelligent, even wise, with eyes that can peer into your soul.” She paused, considering the possibilities. “But if I had to guess, I’d say this one is fierce, territorial, and deeply tied to Shar-Kesh’s power. Dragons don’t just protect treasures—they protect secrets. And if the Sword of Righteousness is anywhere near that city, it wouldn’t let us get close without a fight.”

Malin shuddered, trying to imagine such a creature. "I’m guessing it’s huge. With scales tougher than steel, teeth as long as my arm, and wings that could blow us off our feet just by flapping," he said, his voice a mix of awe and dread. “And it’s probably got this voice—deep, rumbling, maybe even… wise, like it knows more about us than we do.”

Abel laughed, giving Malin a light shove. “You’re making it sound like some sort of ancient philosopher that’s going to sit us down for a lecture.”

“Hey, maybe it will,” Malin replied with a grin, shrugging. “Maybe it’s just been sitting there for centuries, lonely and waiting for someone to talk to. We might have to share our life stories with it before it lets us pass.”

Maya smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Or maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe it’s furious, all teeth and claws, ready to tear anyone apart who dares to enter its domain. A creature like that doesn’t wait around for visitors to make friends.”

Malin’s face paled slightly, though he tried to laugh it off. “Great. So, a giant, angry dragon that knows all our secrets and will probably want to eat me first.”

Abel shook his head, smiling as he poked the fire with a stick. “You’ll be fine, Baker Boy. If you keep up with training, you might even be useful when we face it. Besides, it’ll probably go after the biggest threat first. Which means…” He gestured toward himself with a smirk. “I’ll be the one to keep it occupied.”

“Or maybe it’ll go after whoever looks tastiest,” Maya teased, giving Malin a playful nudge. “And I’ve seen the way you eat those rations, Malin. You’ve got that plump baker look about you.”

Malin groaned, covering his face with his hands as they laughed. “Great. I’m dragon bait.”

They chuckled together, the tension of the unknown easing slightly as they joked and let their imaginations run wild. Theories flowed back and forth—some ridiculous, some terrifying—as they each tried to outdo the other in imagining the dragon’s appearance and behavior. For a brief moment, their fears felt almost manageable, hidden under the laughter and banter.

After a while, as the fire began to die down, Abel leaned back, looking up at the stars. “Alright, enough dragon stories for tonight. Let’s get some rest. We’ll need our strength tomorrow if we’re going to reach Carabesh by midday.”

Maya nodded, stretching her arms. “Good idea. But someone needs to take the first watch. Those… things we fought before could still be out there, and I don’t fancy a surprise attack in the middle of the night.”

Malin quickly raised his hand. “I’ll take it. I’m still too jittery to sleep anyway.”

Abel gave him an approving nod. “Good man. Just keep your ears open, and don’t wander off. Wake one of us if you see or hear anything strange.”

Malin settled himself near the edge of the camp, keeping his eyes on the rolling dunes and shadows stretching out beyond their fire’s glow. His companions settled into their blankets, drifting off to sleep one by one, leaving him alone with the quiet desert night. He took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of responsibility and nervous excitement as he kept watch, his mind drifting between thoughts of dragons, ancient ruins, and the strange creatures that lurked in the darkness.

As he listened to the distant sounds of the desert, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of what lay ahead. Tomorrow, they would reach Carabesh, a city that might hold the answers they sought, but also new dangers and challenges. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

In the quiet, he glanced back at his sleeping friends, grateful for their presence and support. Whatever awaited them beyond Carabesh, he knew they would face it together.

Stolen story; please report.

As the stars wheeled overhead, Malin kept his vigil, thoughts of dragons and dangers merging with dreams of adventure, his watchful eyes steady against the unknown.

As the desert night deepened, Malin kept his watch, his mind drifting between the vast expanse of stars and the endless sands stretching before him. A flicker in the distance caught his eye, like a figure emerging from the darkness, stepping forward with a calm, steady gait. Malin blinked, wondering if his weary eyes were playing tricks on him, but as the figure drew closer, the air around it seemed to shimmer with a faint, otherworldly glow.

It was The Son.

The presence filled Malin with a sudden, quiet awe, a sense of peace settling over him as The Son approached, his expression warm and kind. “You’ve come far, Malin,” he said, his voice steady, carrying a gentle strength. “You’ve left the life you once knew and walked a path of courage and uncertainty. Few would have the heart to do as you have done.”

Malin felt a surge of gratitude and respect. “Thank you,” he replied, his voice almost a whisper. “If it weren’t for you, I’d still be back in Bulsi-Jan, just a baker boy, watching Aza claim everything I could never have. You showed me a way out of that life, a way to fight for what I love.”

The Son smiled, a gentle, knowing look in his eyes. “The Origin’s plan for Salvation is intricate, Malin, woven with purpose and love. Each step you take is guided, even when it feels uncertain. You need only have faith that The Origin will provide and reveal the path in its due time.”

Malin hesitated, his brow furrowing. “The plan… the Origin’s plan for salvation. What is it?” There was a mixture of curiosity and hope in his voice, as if he was reaching for something just out of sight.

The Son’s expression softened, his gaze unwavering. “In time, you will come to understand. Salvation is woven into every step of this journey, but for now, do not worry about what you cannot yet see. Just trust, Malin. Trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.”

Before Malin could reply, The Son began to fade, his form blending into the soft haze of the desert night. His presence lingered like a warm glow, but in a moment, he was gone, leaving Malin with a sense of peace he hadn’t felt since the beginning of this journey. He stood there for a while, staring into the empty desert, feeling a newfound resolve well up inside him.

“Malin,” a voice called softly, bringing him back to the present. He turned to see Maya approaching, her expression gentle. “You’ve been up for hours. It’s your turn to sleep.”

Malin nodded, smiling faintly as he felt the weight of the conversation settle in his heart. “Thank you, Maya,” he said, giving her a grateful look. He lay down, letting the stillness of the night enfold him, and soon, he drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep, his thoughts lingering on The Son’s words and the quiet promise they held.

As Malin drifted into sleep, his mind took him to a place he had only dreamed of—a vision of a life where he had everything he desired. He found himself in a grand chamber, bathed in the golden morning light filtering through tall, elegant windows. The room was filled with warmth, a gentle stillness that wrapped around him like a familiar embrace.

He lay in a massive, soft bed, the covers heavy and comforting, and as he shifted, he felt the warmth of another beside him. Turning, he found Nahra, her eyes still closed, her dark hair cascading over her pillow, a serene smile softening her features. She looked peaceful, content, and in that moment, she was not just his beloved Nahra, but his Queen, the other half of a life they’d built together. He couldn’t resist the urge to lean over, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, before finally brushing his lips against hers.

Nahra stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she returned his kiss with a sleepy smile, nestling closer to him. "Good morning, my Sultan," she murmured, her voice filled with warmth and affection. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a gentle embrace.

He chuckled, his heart swelling with happiness at her words. "Good morning, my Queen," he replied, stroking her hair and savoring the simple, blissful intimacy they shared. "I could get used to waking up like this every day."

Her fingers traced along his arm, and she sighed contentedly. "Well, then you’ll be happy to know that every morning will be just like this… except for one thing."

"And what’s that?" he asked, feigning a hint of curiosity as he tightened his arms around her.

"Our little ones,” she said, laughing softly. “They’ll want our attention soon enough, especially if we don’t get up before them.”

He grinned, a warmth flooding his heart at the thought of their future children. "They’ll have to learn patience, just a little bit," he teased, nuzzling her affectionately. "I think I deserve a few more moments alone with my Queen."

Nahra’s laughter filled the room, bright and joyful, her smile as radiant as the morning light. She reached up, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. "I suppose that can be arranged," she whispered, and for a few more precious moments, they remained wrapped in each other’s arms, sharing in the gentle beauty of a dream made real.

But the peaceful moment was shattered by a sudden shake of his shoulder, a firm hand pulling him from the warmth of his dreams.

"Malin," Abel’s voice cut through the haze of sleep, urgent and unyielding. "Wake up. We have company.”

Malin blinked, the warmth of the dream slipping away as reality snapped into focus. Abel’s face was tense, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Malin followed his line of sight, his heart pounding as he saw dark shapes moving in the distance, figures silhouetted against the faint light of dawn, the same ghoulish beings that had attacked them before. Their eerie song drifted through the early morning air, a haunting melody that made his blood run cold.

The familiarity of the melody filled him with a sense of dread, and without hesitation, he leapt to his feet, quickly mounting his lizard, which he’d come to call Yellow. Maya was already on her mount, her eyes sharp as she assessed the situation.

"We need to move, now!" she called, urgency in her tone.

Malin nodded, feeling a rush of adrenaline surge through him as he steadied himself atop Yellow. With a swift kick, he urged his lizard forward, and they took off, the sand flying beneath them as they sped across the desert with Maya and Abel close by. The creatures behind them began to move faster, their haunting song echoing through the vast emptiness of the desert as they closed in, relentless in their pursuit.

As they raced across the sands, Malin couldn’t shake the lingering warmth of the dream he’d just left. It was a vision of the life he fought for—a life worth every ounce of courage he could muster. And with Nahra’s imagined laughter still echoing in his mind, he pushed Yellow harder, determined to outrun the darkness chasing them.