Elonian Calendar, Year 1502, Lunar Month of Fire ⎯ Flame, Day 21

The midday sunlight scorched down in an endless inferno, condemning the souls that dared to traverse through the hellscape that was the barren sands of Tel’dora. Vulture-like magical beasts circled overhead; their dark, beady eyes surveyed the scene below, the anticipation of a meal being the one thing that kept them from seeking shelter from the sun’s rays. Beneath them, two garbed men sat on creatures resembling camels, harnessed to a wagon that was carelessly packed to the point where the packages within tumbled about with each step.

If one were to look closely, they would notice a young child among the contents, bruised and blackened by the wooden boxes and crates that had jostled against him throughout the uncomfortable journey. Both his clothes, his blindfold, and even the ropes that bound his legs and arms were deeply soaked with sweat, but any strength he mustered was quickly drained away by the heat of the sun.

"Here, drink." Airen raised his head and felt one of his captors undoing the bindings on his gag. Once released, he twisted away, but someone grabbed his face and forced his mouth open. Water poured into Airen’s mouth, and he almost choked while swallowing it, but his throat gulped it down as if it was the nectar of the gods.

"Wasting water on the brat again, Loys?" a gruff voice scoffed. "Our job never mentioned that we had to take care of him, only keep him alive. If he’s weakened, it would just make our lives easier."

"Dji, surely you can handle a kid that can’t even use magic?" the first voice retorted. “Did you really have to drug him for the past few weeks?”

Weeks? Airen’s memory was hazy, and the only thing he could recall was being forced to drink a sickly-sweet substance. It was also the reason he had unconsciously turned away from Loys when he had offered him a drink the first time.

"I wasn’t going to waste ‘sphora for the likes of him. He only received a dose for one week. The boy must have a weak constitution." the man named Dji spat as he responded. "A child of some noble I'd reckon, raised in luxury. It explains why the pay was so good. Hah!”

Loys said nothing in response but waited for Airen to finish coughing.After a few seconds, someone dripped a bitter and minty liquid into his mouth before replacing his gag. Although he was unsure of what it was, the liquid seemed to be medicinal in nature, emanating a gentle coolness that alleviated the heat, if only momentarily.

It had been two days since Airen had come to his senses and found himself in this situation. At first, he had screamed in an attempt to seek help, but that only resulted in laughter. Then the man called Dji had gagged him to ensure that his voice did not attract any magical beasts seeking a meal among the desert sands. Every so often, the man named Loys would remove Airen’s gag and force bland food and stale water down his mouth. After listening to the discussions between the two men that clearly did not like each other, he had pieced together that he had been traveling among them for quite some time now.

Airen had tested the ropes that bound him a few times but it only caused the skin on his wrist and ankles to split and tear. Due to the blindfold, he could make little sense of his surroundings, but what was truly painful was the metal collar clamped around his throat that bound him to the cart. With the movements of the cart, it would rustle and rub against his skin, and with his hands bound, the itchiness drove him to near insanity. However, the true struggle that Airen faced was the ceaseless heat.

It was the type of heat where it made one’s skin prickle to the point where you had the urge to scratch until it was red and bloody.

It was the type of heat that made one sweat until their entire being was sticky and uncomfortable, leaving them in a puddle of their own bodily fluids.

It was the type of heat that drove one to madness, making death seem almost like a logical decision, and it made one fantasize about ways to cool off as a coping mechanism.

Behind the darkness of the blindfold, Airen tried to visualize himself in a tropical oasis. A lush waterfall splashed down in the background, creating a cooling mist that flowed forward, leaving dew upon the nearby plants. A light breeze picked up, blowing even more of the foam towards him, and Airen closed his eyes as he breathed it in, even as it left his clothes damp and his skin wet. For him, this was a necessity and a survival mechanism, and the only way to stay sane being deprived of most of his senses.

This time however, Airen thought he was starting to lose his mind from the heat. The thundering sound of the waterfall had seemed to come alive and was approaching closer. As the sounds grew louder and more deafening, Airen realized it wasn't the sound of a waterfall, but a wave of hoofbeats on the sand.

"By the goddess," Airen heard the man called Dji cursed under his breath, and the scraping sound of a sword escaping its sheathe.

"Perhaps this is goddess' justice," Loys laughed. "You’re the one that picked this route!."

"Blasted information broker must’ve lied. I was told this was a safe road!" Dji grumbled. “Damn cannibals already robbed us last month when we had a full wagon of slaves!”

"Should we ditch the cart?"

“We can’t recover from this if we mess this up.” Dji said nothing more. The two of them got off their mounts and stood in front of their cargo with hands atop their weapons, awaiting the desert people's arrival.

A small group of strangely clad people on horses approached the caravan. They wore sandals and reddish-brown robes that blended so well with the sand that, if not for the horses, it would have been extremely hard to spot them if they had stood still. Each of them wielded a short bow as they approached, and thin bone-like blades glinted occasionally from behind their robes. Upon spotting the two men, the aged man in front held up a hand and the rest of the band nocked an arrow onto their bows in preparation. The leader and his horse approached with a grim expression and his sword on his lap, his eyes hidden by a thin piece of veiled fabric.

"Give us the caravan and you may leave with your lives!"

"You have already taken my wares last month!” Dji snorted. At these words, the leader’s mouth curved into a smirk.

A dull thud sounded out, and when Dji looked down, several arrows had been stuck in front of him in a neat solid line with deadly precision.

“Let us pass. This contract was worth more than what you took from me last time! I can promise you sixty-no, seventy percent of the reward!” Dji bargained. His reputation as a trader of certain ‘exotic goods’ was at stake, and even if he made away with his life, he would no doubt be pushed out of the business. In response, another series of arrows embedded themselves at his feet.

"That is your last warning!" the leader of the sand dwellers retorted. At his words, the first row of people behind him put away their bows and drew their blades. They made their position clear that they would not accept any compromises or deals.

“Dji, it is not worth it. We should just let the carriage go.” Loys said quietly. “Didn’t you say you wanted to get out of these sorts of jobs?”

“If we don’t complete our end of the bargain, the council won’t let this end easily. Don’t you know what happens to people like us?” Dji argued. “They will need proof that the job was done. The barbarians wouldn’t care if we just take the head⎯ ”

"We want everything on your person save for your clothes!" The raider leader bellowed out. “Any sudden moves and we will attack!”

“Do the job that I hired you for!” Dji hissed and reached into his pockets and pulled out a brown purse. The jingle of the coins reached Airen’s ears. “As long as you hold them off long enough, I can get the proof we need. Then our business can return to the heights it was at before.”

“Fine… But it’s your funeral.” Loys sighed, and while Dji’s back faced him, he glanced at the leader of the raider and shook his head.

"Enough! You damn barbarians took so much from me!" Dji snorted and yelled out a battle cry unaware of the silent communication that had taken place. Just as he drew his sword, a hail of arrows flew through the air, with four that embedded themselves in his arms and legs.

"You filthy... cowards," Dji cursed, as he pulled out the arrows, drawing his sword and glancing at Loys who had deftly blocked any arrows aimed towards him with a flick of his wrist. Although Dji considered himself a relatively decent combatant, his hired help was clearly on a higher level.

"A few arrows are nothing compared to the magical beasts I've dealt with before! Loys! Ready your spells, so we can deal with these-" Dji shouted as he turned and started to run towards Airen’s location. However, after only taking two steps, he halted, a sword sprouted from his chest.

"Sorry, boss," Loys said. “I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. If you had stopped, we wouldn’t have needed to dirty our hands with you. Sooner or later you’d have met an unfortunate end anyway."

"Loys... you… when did you start selling me out to the barbarians?" Realization dawned on Dji, his voice filled with disbelief as he choked out the words.

"May the goddess forgive you for your sins. " Loys did not reply, but instead the raiding party’s leader spoke up. Unnoticed, he had approached the two of them in a mere moment, and in one fluid and merciful strike, he lopped off Dji's head.

"Elder Duncan, did you really have to do that?." Loys complained as he withdrew his weapon from the slaver’s chest. He wrinkled his face as he checked his clothing to see how badly he had been splattered.

"Thieves and criminals are made, not born, Loys. Everyone deserves mercy." Duncan dismounted and stuck his sword into the desert sand. As he pulled it out, his sword came out as clean as it was prior, "And I'm only twenty years older than you, so stop calling me Elder."

"As you wish, Elder Duncan," Loys smirked. He walked off to greet some of his friends among the horsemen, all of whom were also starting to dismount. Duncan sighed and held up a hand, noticing Airen who had turned his head to face them.

What now? Airen thought as the footsteps approached. He had heard the sharp twist the conversation had taken, and his fear had turned into a faint glimmer of hope. However, as the footsteps grew louder, he could not help but tense up.

“Don’t move, let me remove your blindfold first so we can see face to face.”

Entering the caravan, Duncan removed Airen’s blindfold and held up his hands to show that he meant no harm. Surprised, Airen rubbed his limbs and jolted at the sight of the masked man. He wore a visored hat that sported both a neck flap and a face cover, no doubt to protect oneself from the desert elements.

Apparently expecting his reaction, the man slowly raised his hand and pulled down the face cover, and Airen met the smiling face of an old man. It was not what Airen had imagined it to be from his imagination, expecting to find a rugged and scarred warrior only to find a priestly-looking old man with gray and white hairs. At the same time however, his eyes that had never been exposed to the desert heat and dry air began to tear and itch.

"Keep your eyes averted to the ground, and always squint if you wish to look forward.” The man’s gray beard broke into a smile as he advised. “The goddess's grace seems to have smiled upon you this time, young man."

"You are not going to eat me?" Airen asked hesitantly.

"Eat you? Do you want me to eat you?" Duncan laughed. He plucked at Airen's arm. "You are skin and bones, not much to eat, better fatten you up first!"

“Slowly now, you might end up fainting if you move too quickly.” A firm hand grasped Airen’s arm as he tried to stand. Having been stuck without the use of his limbs for a long time and suffering from muscle atrophy, he instantly stumbled and would have fallen without the support.

Duncan gently pulled Airen out of the wagon, helping him find his steps. Before they exited the caravan however, he pulled on Airen to have him stop.

“You will burn if you step onto the sands with your clothes. Wait.” Duncan shouted at another man a few meters off in a strange language, and the man nodded as he returned to the group of riders. Airen could see that it was not a single wagon that he was on, but it was a small caravan. The other raiders were carefully sifting through the contents of the other wagon, noting and exploring their plunder.

A moment later, a girl rapidly approached the two of them. She appeared to be a few years older than Airen, and handled her mount skillfully and with grace. In her arms were a small bundle of clothes and a gourd of water. She hardly spared a glance at him as she tossed the bundle towards him.

Airen fumbled and tried to catch the items, but his arms were too stiff from being tied up and the items fell to the ground.

"Eullina, did you have to toss it?" Duncan scolded and assisted Airen, scraping away any sand that stuck to the clothing as he helped him put it on. "Our friend here is starved and weakened from being a captive."

As soon as Airen donned the outfit that looked exactly like Duncan’s, the heat seemed to instantly become bearable. However, before Airen could make a note about the uniqueness of the clothing and express gratitude to the young girl that had stopped next to Duncan, he heard a quiet pop as she handed him the gourd.

Like a deprived beast, Airen grabbed the bottle and held it up and poured it down his throat. Several streams of water trailed down his chin, quickly being absorbed by the thirsty desert sand. Duncan smiled wryly as a look of annoyance flashed in the girl's eyes for a second, and she opened her mouth to speak.

"Peace, Eullina." Duncan waved. "We should praise the goddess that we managed to arrive on time. Let the boy enjoy himself. "

Airen realized that they were talking about him and he slowed his rate of drinking into a less wasteful pace. After he finished, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve and handed the bottle back to the girl named Eullina.

"I apologize... and thank you for... rescuing me?" he ventured. They did not seem to mean him any harm.

"Oh, he's a polite one." Loys had returned and was now watching Airen closely before turning to the girl. As he had approached, Airen had bowed his head in respect since he had pieced together that this man was the reason he had survived for so long. “Must’ve been true that you were some sort of nobility,”

"The kid is so honest!” Loys laughed as Airen nodded slowly. “He’s the opposite of you, Eullina. Remember how you punched and bit Horly when we rescued you?"

"Loys, why in the name of all that is holy, did you choose to rescue this... this kid. He is not going to be of any help to us." Eullina snorted and swatted Loy’s hand away from her.

"'Cause, it seemed interesting." Loys began, tossing up the gold pouch and catching it. "I mean... who pays this much just to get rid of a kid?" He turned towards Airen. "Hey boy, who did you piss off?"

Airen opened his mouth but quickly closed it, unsure if he should answer.

"The kid's still coming to his senses. Give him some time." Duncan reprimanded. "As for you, strange child from a distant land, you do not have to say anything you don’t wish to say. What is your name?"

"Airen, My name is Airen." Airen nodded his head in acknowledgement of Duncan's words. Until he got his bearings, he figured it was best to hide his identity. Airen never considered himself a good liar, having always been seen through by his sister and Jourmind, so it was good fortune that he did not have to talk about himself. “Where are we?”

"Eullina will answer your questions, I need to arrange for our return home. Come along, Loys, it is time to stop slacking off now that you are finally back." Duncan shook his head. “Go easy on Airen, Eullina.”

Loys groaned in annoyance and followed Duncan's footsteps. As he stepped passed Airen, he gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.

Eullina and Airen stood for a while observing the other. The first thing Airen noticed was her tanned skin, short raven black hair, and almond-colored eyes. During his time back at the palace, he had not often seen people with darkened skin. In return, Eullina took in the sight of a boy with dirty brown hair with skin that was too clear for someone that resided in the desert. There was a slight familiarness in her eyes, as if she seemed to recognize a bit of Airen’s nature, but it came with a cold and distant stare.

"First, take off your dirty rags beneath your tunic. Since you’re unaccustomed to wearing a kaftan, it will only cause you to sweat more." Eullina sighed and pulled out a rolled up piece of cloth. Upon unfurling it, it appeared to be a one-piece tunic that was clearly meant for a female.

"I am supposed to wear this?" Airen looked incredulously at Eullina.

"Do you think I would have other spare clothes that were not meant for me? Get on with it, or you can not listen to me and suffer for the next few days." Eullina gave a curt reply.

"Change in the wagon if you’re feeling shy." she added shortly afterward, misinterpreting Airen’s response as a different type of humility.

She turned around and motioned with the back of her hand for him to go. Airen clambered back into the caravan and took off his rags. throwing backward glances behind him. He held up the tunic for a brief moment of hesitation before gritting his teeth and putting it on under the kaftan. After all, he was a stranger in this land, at the mercy of the elements and these desert people, so there was no reason to resist as long as the intentions were good.

Upon hearing footsteps, Eullina turned around and nodded in approval. "Not bad, I had expected some fuss from you since you looked like a spoiled child that grew up in reclusion. Then again, there’s still a long way back to the city so plenty of opportunities to see if you hold up.."

"The city...? When did the Hero's Desert have a city?” Airen asked.

"The... Hero's Desert? We're in the Barrens of Tel'dora." Seeing the look of confusion on his face, Eullina gestured towards the sandy horizons. Not seeing the light of recognition in Airen’s eyes, she started to elaborate further.

"We are not part of any nation you know of. Tel’dora lies towards the south at the end of the Eiloong Continent. It’s shaped similar to a peninsula, bordering the Red Slate Republic to the north and the vast Dew Plains to the east. These lands are inhabited by all sorts of wild creatures, albeit the magical beasts that reside here are much weaker compared to those of the Hero’s Desert. Most of the people here... are former slaves of the Red Slate Republic that either ran away or were left to die."

"Slaves...." Airen had heard of the concept of slavery but was too naive to fully understand what it entails. "So… servants?" he asked meekly.

That did not sit well with Eullina -- anger flashed in her eyes and she raised her hand to hit him instinctively. However, she stopped when she noticed the befuddled look on Airen's face, which was genuine curiosity.

"You… You don’t know anything, do you? I can’t tell if you are truly innocent or ignorant." Eullina grumbled as she backed down and merely shook her head in annoyance.

"Get on." Eullina gestured behind her from atop her horse. Although it resembled a horse, upon closer look, Airen realized it was covered in scales, and its feet were webbed akin to that of a frog.

"But I don't know how to ride a-"

"No better time to learn." Eullina extended a hand, with a twinkle in her eye.

Airen did not like that look on his newfound companion’s face and resigned himself to his fate.

After mercilessly falling off the horse a few times in his attempt to mount the horse, his formerly clean attire soon became speckled with sand. Eullina’s frown quickly turned into a smirk of amusement, and after a few more failed attempts, she reached out and grabbed Airen’s arm, pulling him up, seating him in front of her.

In the meantime, the desert people had finished investigating what they could from the caravan and they were making preparations to leave with it in tow. Right before they set off, Duncan dragged Airen out in front of everyone.

"Child, introduce yourself." he nudged.

Tanned faces watched him in anticipation.

"My name is A-Airen." Airen forced out, stuttering the words as he spoke. He was not used to giving introductions to others, for usually, they would already know who he was. Even then, Jourmind was the one who would announce his arrival.

There were mixed reactions from the group. Some had pitying eyes, others curious, but a majority of them gave him a friendly nod or light greeting. It was a motley group of faces with a slighter higher ratio of men, but Airen could barely tell beneath their cloaked and visored attire. A few of them seemed to look him up and down as if sizing him up, before quietly shaking their heads and returning to their tasks.

“There will be more time to speak to each other later.” Duncan placed a hand on Airen's shoulder as the group returned to their original spots. With the few wagons looted bare and their contents strapped onto their mounts, the band of desert dwellers slowly began to make preparations to depart.

"No matter where you hail or who you are, you are part of our family now. " Duncan informed him warmly. “We are all sort of outcasts with all manner of histories behind us, so don’t worry about trying to fit in.”

"I... well..." Airen mumbled, eyes downcast. Hearing the young boy’s tone, Duncan stopped and stared deeply into his eyes.

"Airen, I do not know what circumstances have brought you to us, but you can trust us. We mean you no harm and we will do our best to reduce your burdens until you’ve fully comprehended your situation. Let the adults worry about adult things, and when the time comes, perhaps we can send you home."

"....Thank you. I want to ask. if you found another caravan with a girl with black hair…" Airen's eyes glazed over as he became overwhelmed with complicated emotions. This was a type of kindness that he was not accustomed to, but his first instinct was to see if he could find his sibling. “She-She is my sister.”

"Loys was our spymaster for the past few years. He sends word when prisoners or slaves are sent out into this area. But that only happens once or twice every year." Seeing the pained expression on Airen’s face, Duncan slowly explained, trying to deliver the news gently.

"Unless your sister is much older or younger… it is likely that she was kept in the Red Slate Republic." Duncan quickly added after seeing Airen’s crestfallen look.

"How do I get there from here?" The former prince’s eyes blazed with a grim determination.

"Listen to me carefully, Airen from a distant land, if you go now, to the place from whence you just left, you are as good as dead." Duncan took heed of the desperate voice of the boy in front of him. “Young one, you must not act recklessly. Since you ended up here in such a state, you must have enemies from where you came from.”

"The way you are now, you would just be a snack for a Dune Worm. Come with us, recover, and act with a clear mind, for your sister's sake." He squeezed Airen's shoulder with a clenching vise. “Let us speak with Loys tonight, and he may have some details. If you leave a description with him, he may be able to keep an eye out.”

Airen considered his options. He did not have any information on his enemy, nor who the enemy actually was. While he had some assumptions, his adversary was unknown and could be looming all around him.

"Then... I will be in your care for a while."

"Good, good," Duncan nodded in response, sensing that the crisis had passed. "We are going to make a few stops and then we will return to Tel'naraa. When we arrive, Eullina will take care of you. She.... was in a similar situation like you once."

"Are you speaking ill of me to the newcomer? What are you two whispering about?" Eullina rode up beside them upon hearing her name.

"Speak of the devil, and she will appear." Duncan mused. "Nothing special, Eullina, I was just telling Airen here I was thinking of having you take care of him."

"What?" she turned her eyes on Airen. "This little runt? Why are you pushing him onto me?"

"Because I said so," Duncan said firmly. "Little lamb, the world is not your enemy. One must practice tolerance at times to those that are in situations we can relate to."

Eullina turned around and faced the other way.

"Fine," came the muttered reply. "I’ll look after the ignorant noble since we are all in the same shoes now, as long as he can keep up."

"Airen, today you are a free man. No matter your past or history, it won't be held against you. On this day forward, only the goddess will judge you by your actions instead of your shadows." Duncan held his hands together as if offering a prayer. For the briefest moment, Airen felt as if the weight on his shoulders seemed to clear, and the arid air and stifling heat seemed to ease up for the briefest of moments. Duncan patted Airen's shoulder twice, once on each side, and spurred his horse towards the front of the group.

"A minor blessing. I do not know your reasons yet, but you should listen to Elder Duncan," Eullina commented, as Airen stared at his hands, unsure what had just occured. “Once upon a time, he was a well-known knight from the Holy Land of Ecclesia.”

Airen said nothing, still wondering why she had dubbed him an 'ignorant noble' but was too afraid to ask. The manner, attitude, and boldness of the girl in front of him made him timid, as nobody had ever talked down to him in such a way. While his former captors had treated him as a mere object, it was still a stark difference compared to being treated as an equal, albeit an inferior one.

"What's the matter, Airen?" The mention of his name jolted him from his thoughts. "Too many things overloading your brain?"

"Yes... I mean... no." Airen slowly formed his thoughts together. "I understand what is happening, but I guess I.. I am still trying to work through it."

"It was like that for me... and everyone else too," Eullina responded quietly. “You will adapt to it eventually. The desert of Tel’dora will make sure of that. Hop on, it is time we started moving.”

"Where are we going?" Airen accepted Eullina’s hand, surprised at her assistance.

"To the Seafoam Oasis.”

…

A few hours after traveling under the blistering heat till dusk, a dark crimson horizon signaled the near end of the day. They had traveled quickly, more quickly than Airen had expected through the sifting sands, arriving at what appeared to be a stone circle that was composed of ruined sandstone pillars. At the center of the ruins was what seemed to be the remains of a great fountain, still leaking a strangely emerald-hued liquid.

Following the steps of the others, Airen reached down and cupped a handful into the pool of blue-green water, but halted midway as he brought it to his mouth.

"Can I actually drink this?" he asked Eullina next to him.

"Yes, despite the color, it’s not going to kill you. Plus, it is a necessity for desert-dwellers like us." Eullina had already drunk as much as she could and had proceeded to fill her water-skins.

Airen turned to the liquid in his hands and sniffed it, smelling a sharp aroma akin to cardamom pods. He gingerly brought the liquid closer to his mouth and let a few droplets seep through. The instant it entered his mouth, he forgot about the desert heat for a moment as the liquid brought down his core temperature and left a mint-like after taste in his mouth. Airen quickly realized it was what Loys had fed him while he was still a captive.

"This is great!" Airen started cupping the liquid with both his hands and started to drink as much as he could. The aftertaste was akin to that of a fizzy drink and was almost addictive, and had none of the bitterness from when he had first tasted it.

"Don't drink too much, the Seafoam has some side effects." Eullina’s cautionary voice cut through his drunken enthusiasm. Airen sputtered and coughed for a minute as his throat suddenly seized, causing some of the liquid to enter his nasal passages, the minty chill rushing towards his head. Eullina laughed at his predicament and rubbed his back until his ordeal passed.

"What...effects are we talking about?" Airen grimaced through the pain and asked.

"The water here, we call it the Seafoam, is supposed to bring forth a deep and peaceful slumber. " Eullina pointed over her shoulder behind her where several of the lizard-like horses and their riders were in a pile, deep in slumber. “It is said that if one drinks too much of it, they can lose their memories.”

"Here, this one belongs to you now. Don't lose it and don't drink it all at once." Eullina handed over the water-skin she had just finished filling. Airen apprehensively accepted it, stashing it in one of the many pockets within the kaftan.

"There won't be any side effects if you only take a few sips now and then. Plus, pure water is extremely rare to find and even harder to create here even for talented water mages. Later you-.”

Before Eullina could continue, a hand pressed down on her and Airen’s heads from behind..

“Well, well. You two kids are getting along just fine.” Loys chuckled. “Sorry to interrupt you two lovebirds, but it's time for dinner. Especially you, Airen. Surely you are itching for some real food no?”

Airen’s stomach growled at the prospect of a freshly cooked meal. At his embarrassment, Loys burst out laughing and even Eullina had a shadow of a smile on her face.

“Looks like our star guest is ready and willing!” Loys hooked a hand under Airen’s shoulder and pulled him up. “Come along now, little noble boy. Hunger is indeed the best spice, and it seems like we need to fatten you up a bit. ”

“Er… yes.” Airen replied awkwardly as they made their way towards the center of the camp with Eullina trailing behind them.

“It’s a bit late for introductions, but I’m Loys, the most handsome and resourceful man in the entire city- no, the entire desert.” His eyes curled as he flashed a smile that was clearly intended to be comforting, but his tone and words did not quite sync up.

Behind him, Airen heard the sound of Eullina snorting, which caused a smile to come unbidden to his face. He could not tell if Loys was acting for his sake or this was his true nature, but the stark contrast was a novel experience for him.

“If you need any help with women, big brother Loys will be glad to share his experiences and stories.” Ignoring her, Loys continued, slapping Airen on his back lightly.

“Uh… I’ll keep it in mind.” Unsure how to respond, Airen meekly nodded in acknowledgement.

“Don’t listen to him, Airen. All his stories end up in him drowning his sorrows in alcohol anyway.” Eullina jeered. “Outside of his job, he’s a useless man that finds any and all reason to slack off.”

“You wound me, Eullina.” Loys made an exaggerated gesture of him clutching his heart in pain. “Love is a fickle mistress, I simply dedicate all my time in the pursuit of finding someone that shares my passions…”

Eullina simply shook her head and tugged Airen by the hand as she ran ahead towards the campfire, leaving Loys behind.

“This is quite something,” Airen proclaimed, spooning the rich stew into his mouth. The spicy flavor warmed him up, which was a welcomed side-effect as the desert heat had faded as the sun began to set. “It doesn’t taste like anything I have ever had before. What is in it?”

“Jackal meat,” Duncan, who was sitting next to him, replied with a knowing grin. At dusk, the desert-dwellers had broken off into several groups of their own, built their own campfires and erected their tents. The meals were all cooked in the center of the camp by one individual, but all of the dwellers retreated to their own areas after having retrieved their food. Duncan had decided to join Airen along with Eullina and Loys who also stuck around, With the cooling temperatures, everyone in the camp had taken off their visored hats.

“Jacket meat…?” Airen’s spoon halted momentarily, but in the end, he still brought it to his mouth. It was already his second bowl, and what was done was done.

“Our hunters caught a few Desert Jackals when they went scouting. There’s usually a good number of them close by thanks to the Seafoam Oasis.” Eullina explained. “Still, their meat is tough and lean, so Lilrim often prepares them in a stew so we’re not picking scraps of meat from between our teeth.”

Didn’t Eullina say something about water being a rare resource. Airen thought quietly to himself but refrained from making himself look like a fool. He had watched many of his compatriots use magic to assist their work, from setting up camps to creating areas to sit that were clear of sand.

“And if you’re wondering about the taste, that’s probably because it’s monster meat.”

“Monster meat..?” Airen stared at the chunk of grilled meat in his spoon. He had thought it was a trick of the light, but upon closer inspection the meat had a yellowish tinge to it.

“Don’t worry, other than its strange appearance and texture, it’s perfectly fit for human consumption, as long as it is prepared properly!” Duncan had noticed the look on Airen’s face and laughed. “You wouldn’t even notice it since Lilrim’s the best chef in the entire city.”

“Is this what… you eat out here?” Airen asked cautiously. While the stew was definitely tasty, that was more because of the abilities of the chef. There would definitely be times when such an individual would not be available.

“Partly.” Duncan said. “Back in the city we grow a few plants and process them into something that can survive the desert heat.” He took out a rugged bag and removed what appeared to be a thick white slab and handed it to Airen. In his hands, they felt like pale hardtack, dried and hard to the touch and with the texture of pumice.

“These are part of the rations we carry when we traverse the desert. Give it a try.”

Skeptical, Airen placed a corner of the slab into his mouth and bit off a piece. It quickly melted into a sweet creamy paste in his mouth with a taste reminiscent of mushrooms, but as soon as he swallowed, it left his mouth parched and aching for water.

“It is called Teq bread. We make it a mixture of blackened wheat and cave mushrooms before we let it dry into blocks. What do you think?”

“It is… a bit dry.” Airen replied honestly, coughing and spooning more stew into his mouth to wash away the gritty texture in his mouth.

“Hahaha, that it is...” Duncan agreed as he smiled. “But it can be kept forever. Some people have claimed they've eaten ten-year old Teq bread without issues...”

“There’s a bit of it in the stew right?” Airen asked. Although the stew was rich and tasted like mulled mutton, it left an aftertaste that was woody in nature.

“Oh? You must have a rather impeccable tongue if you can taste it.” Duncan complimented. “Most newcomers would never know unless they actually see the cook put it in.”

“There were always several types of dishes back at- ” Airen halted before he could finish saying Imperial Palace. “..home. I have always wanted to learn how to cook.”

“What stopped you?” Eullina joined in as she took a seat next to Airen, legs extended into the soft desert sand. With her arrival, Airen took the opportunity to look up and glance over at Duncan. The old man had clearly noticed Airen’s pause, but pretended to poke and prod at their campfire while feigning ignorance.

Airen hesitated for a moment as he pondered how to respond. In the corner of his vision, Duncan tactfully kept silent as he watched the young boy weigh the scales in his heart.

“My duties.” Airen said quietly as he looked down.. “My tutors said it was unfit for someone like me to be spending time learning how to cook.”

At his tone, Duncan shot Eullina a knowing look. They briefly glanced at each other and through an unspoken agreement, quickly decided to change the subject.

“Well, in the present day, you have all the freedom to do what you’d like.” Eullina hastily replied. “Our small city can always have another chef, and I am sure Lilrim could use a helping hand while you get your bearings together.”

“And at least you cannot possibly end up as bad as Eullina.” Loys, who was on the other side of the campfire immersed in an old book, interjected without looking up. “Only a few times have I ever seen Lilrim get frustrated when trying to teach someone to cook. Lina would have talent being an alchemist that brewed poisons.”

“ Be quiet.” Eullina growled. “At least I tried, okay? You can live off dried meat and stale bread, but the rest of us want to feel something while we’re eating.”

“Please learn how to cook well so she never has to do dinner duty. Airen, my young chef… please make sure she never gets close to the kitchen, for all our sake.” Loys cackled. “This is the solemn duty that I, Loys, entrust to you!”

Just as he finished speaking, a shadow cast over the book Loys was reading, and he looked up to see Eullina towering over him with an unnerving smile on her face.

“Easy there Eu-” Loys croaked out before he suffered a kick in the shin.

“Don’t worry about them. That’s just how the two of them are, acting like a pair of bickering siblings that pretend that they cannot get along.” Duncan laughed as he saw Airen’s face as the two of them started to grapple each other. Eullina tried to kick Loys again, but he quickly twisted out of her grip and rolled to the side, causing her to miss and let loose a flurry of sand into the air.

“For people like us, family is something we had found again in this place. We won’t force you to do something you don’t wish to, unless we think it is for your own good.” Duncan added. “You are young, little one, and you’ve been met with malice in your current situation. Surely this world can do with a bit more kindness, right Airen?”

Siblings, family. Those words seem to cause an indescribable weight to fall on Airen’s chest, and he looked down at his empty bowl. He had been so caught up with the current situation that only now did he have time to stop, think and process everything that has happened. And little by little, gently and quietly, Airen's cheeks started to grow warm and wet.

He had no clue where Yuelei, Jourmind or Macha was, or if they were alive.

He was alone, forced to a distant land far away from a home that may no longer exist.

And somehow, he had been fortunate enough to run into kind people that saved him.

Duncan placed an arm around the young boy’s shoulders as they shook, and continued to stare into the campfire with an unwavering but understanding gaze. If Loys and Eullina had noticed Airen crying quietly into his food, they also pretended not to see and loudly yelled to cover up any sobs coming from the young child.

Regardless of circumstances or background, at one point, they were also someone that had been in his shoes.

...

Later that night

“Wake up Airen.” A voice called out to Airen, rousing him from his slumber.”Wake up!”

“Mmm, what is-” As Airen shrugged off the effects of sleep and rubbed his puffed-up eyes, he felt the sand beneath him trembling ever so slightly, forming thin waves in the sand. .

“Come with me quickly.” Eullina half-dragged, half-pulled Airen outside. The sun was just starting to rise as they passed a small line of mounted men in a crescent-moon shaped formation, and headed towards a small group of people holding up torches, their backs towards the Seafoam Lake.

“Get behind us... The quakes will grow stronger,” one of the women holding up torches whispered at the two of them. “It’s coming soon.”

“What is-” Airen said but Eullina quickly shushed him.

“It hunts by sound, so stop yelling.” she reprimanded him quietly. “They are most active during the coming dawn, so it’s not safe until it passes.”

“What is coming?” Lowering his voice Airen asked as the ground shook harder and harder.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

At that moment, the sand forty meters in front of them shot into the sky as a giant creature showed its head and hissed at the group. It was an eyeless abomination, with a series of 12 black fangs that converged towards its center where the mouth was. The width of its body was the size of a large tree trunk, and was covered with green and brown scales that resembled stone save for its underbelly. Occasionally, there would be protruding bone spurs along the creature’s spine that were blanched white in color.

“A Dune Worm.”

“Archers! Release!” a familiar voice directed. Airen strained his eyes in the dim darkness and he realized the voice came from Duncan, who had moved towards the start of the half-crescent formation. “The rest of you, FORWARD!”

At his command, the warriors behind him started sprinting towards the Dune Worm as the remaining group released arrows from their short bows. A few of these arrows glanced off the magical beast’s scales, but a majority landed on the beast’s fleshy bottom-side. The Dune Worm reared back in pain and spat out gobs of dark green acid at the oncoming aggravators. These blobs of acid exploded in midair, causing a hail of yellow-green liquid.

“Vanguard!” Duncan shouted, and at his call the warriors in front tossed their small bucklers like boomerangs at the acid balls, deflecting the largest of them away from the group. By magic, the bucklers swerved back towards the warrior’s hands as they continued their charge. Held high in the air, they sizzled as they protected them from the remaining acid projectiles as their wielders continued to charge forward.

“Engage!” Duncan roared. Several war-cries followed his proclamation, and many of the vanguard tossed aside their half-melted shields as they drew their weapons and moved into range.

“Now!” Loys shouted. Several of his champions jumped up and impaled their blades deep into its tail, while others diverged towards the side and cut the fleshy underside. Flashes of color sprang forth as each of them unleashed magical techniques and spells at their disposal, leaving numerous wounds alongside the creature’s unarmored underside.

“Mages! Bolts!" came the cry from Duncan as the Dune Worm roared in pain, bringing its tail forward and curling it around itself to protect its fleshy parts. It was to no avail however, as a few moments afterwards, several balls of humming magical energy spells flew straight into the creature's maw. One particularly large and well-aimed Stone Bullet even knocked off one of the creature’s black fangs, causing a cheer to raise among the assembled combatants..

Airen watched in amazement as the large magical beast was skillfully and efficiently dispatched under Duncan’s commands. It was closer to a performance as the desert folk seemed to understand how the creature would react, an ability borne from the experience of a multitude of hunts.

After one particular deep cut by Loys, the Dune Worm had attempted to bury into the sand and escape, but several mages had transformed the dirt beneath it into sandstone, cutting off its escape route. From afar, Duncan continued relaying directions and controlled the battlefield as the Dune Worm slowly succumbed to its wounds.

“You seem impressed.” Eullina chuckled. “I figured that you would have liked to watch.”

“It is the first time I have seen such a large magical beast being taken down.” Airen admitted, not looking away as a few men circled and probed the fallen creature, making sure that it was truly dead.

“A Dune Worm? They are the usual source of meat out here in the Tel’dora desert. Despite their size, they are actually quite weak.” Eullina explained. “A hunting party of three can easily take one down if they are experienced enough, although it would have taken a bit longer if it was one as large as this one.”

“Wait.. you’re going to be eating that?” Airen shakily pointed at the corpse, greenish-yellow blood-like pus soaking into the desert sand.

“We are indeed going to be eating that. Come along now.” Eullina tugged Airen’s arm towards the corpse, laughing at the expression on his face. “Before the sun rises, we have much to do before the desert takes it from us.”

“Wha- why are you pulling me towards it?” Airen blurted out as the group walked towards the carcass, a sudden thought flashed through his mind. He recalled stories of barbarians or cults drinking flesh blood as a ritual. “We are not eating it raw right?”

That statement caused a wave of laughter to roll through the group.

“No no no, we must butcher the corpse for the meat and prepare it for the journey.” Eullina managed to get out while bowled over in laughter.

Airen could feel his face turning red.

“I was going to have you watch and learn how to carve and bundle up meat. Preparing food is an important part of survival here.” After Eullina finally stopped laughing she started to explain. “We cannot possibly bring it all back, especially not a Dune Worm of this size.”

"Oh...” Airen mumbled as he looked down in embarrassment.

Upon arriving in front of the corpse, Airen realized the Dune Worm was even larger than he envisioned. It was as tall as the two scaled horses that Eullina brought him, and there was no need to describe how wide it was. Duncan greeted the two as they arrived and directed them towards the tail end of the beast, giving Airen a smile as he pushed him onwards. Eullina nodded her thanks, and they made their way towards the designated point, passing a few other groups that were already at work carving into the creature’s exposed underbelly.

Upon arriving, they noticed that there was someone waiting for them. She was a robust-looking woman, with her head and hair held back by a large white bandana. Although she wore the same kaftan and visored headgear as them, she also had what appeared to be a custom made apron that covered from the front. Eullina bowed her head and Airen quickly followed suit after seeing her do so.

“Senior Lilrim.” Eullina politely greeted her.

“Eullina my dear, there’s no need for formalities.” the middle-aged woman waved her hands. Based on the color of her hands and the splashes of yellow and green on her clothes, she has already been hard at work before the two of them had arrived. “We’ve already known each other for years!”

“I have to greet you this way, otherwise this brat won’t treat you with respect.” Eullina coughed as she slapped Airen’s back, pushing him forward.

“So this is the little boy that we have rescued.” Lilrim leaned down until her amber eyes stared into his. “Nice to meet you, Airen. I am Lilrim.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Lilrim.” Out of habit and slightly flustered at the close contact, Airen responded in a more polite manner than he had intended.

“Lady is it..? It has been a long time since I have been called that.” Lilrim chuckled and rubbed Airen’s head. “Quite a particular manner of speech you converse in, Airen. This politeness reminds me of the old days.”

“Duncan told me that you wanted to be a chef -- is that true, Airen?” She stood up and gestured for the two to follow her.

“Um… yes.” Airen wasn’t sure where this was going, so he replied in a meek voice.

“Louder. You’ll have to speak up child, the people around us aren’t known for eloquence.” Lilrrim chuckled. “Duncan said he was going to get me a helper, but it seems like we have quite a bit to teach you.”

“Yes!”

“Good, from this moment on, your first lesson begins.”

“Wait, Lilrim, I thought that you had denied everyone that came to ask you for an apprenticeship.“ Eullina butted in.

“I didn’t deny them,” Lilrim shook her head and snorted. “I kicked them out because they had no palate at all! How can you teach someone that can’t taste the difference between dried Teq bread and rehydrated ones?”

“Does someone need a palate to learn to be a cook?” Airen asked, confused. “Is it not just following a recipe and putting things together?”

“Anyone can follow instructions, but there are as many magical beasts as there are stars in the sky. A chef in this era is someone that can improvise and create something new, not just mimic what has already been done.” Lilrim sighed. “For someone your age, Duncan said you have a refined taste and not like the rest of these louts here. At the very least, you’re still young so in the worst case we can have you unlearn some things.”

That’s probably because I had spent all my years in the Imperial Palace. Airen thought to himself.

“And that is what it takes to become a great chef. Unless, of course, you do not want to become my apprentice?” Lilrim shrugged.

“No, I would like to be your apprentice, please.” Joy coursed through Airen’s veins as he realized that despite his circumstances, he may actually pursue his desires here.

“Good. Then maybe you can survive living with Eullina, and she could finally eat decently again. Every day I don’t see her at the mess hall, I am afraid she’s living off water and dried meat.” Lilrim laughed.

“Lilrim!” Eullina grumbled in complaint, clearly a bit embarrassed.

Despite Eullina’s continuous rant about her perfectly fine eating habits, Airen paid close attention as Lilrim showed him how to harvest and prepare the meat. The Dune Worm’s blood was yellow-green, but the meat itself was a shade of red-yellow. The best meat was taken not from the underbelly, which was where the major organs were, but by removing some of the rock-like scales and cutting beneath.

“You see the way the fibers extend here? This is what we call the grain of the meat. All muscles flow in a certain direction, and you must cut perpendicular to that direction, otherwise you will end up with a chewy texture.” Lilrim explained as she hefted up a sizeable chunk of Dune Worm meat, running her blade against it.

“In most cases, you must drain the blood from the meat, but since we’re in the desert, we can easily dry it in the sun.” Lilrim added. “You can also use magic, all the four major elements have some spells that aid preservation. However, magic usually taints the taste, so it is best to avoid. It should be done only out of necessity, and any half-decent chef would never use magic to preserve food.”

“What about cooking with magic?” Airen asked.

“There’s no problem with cooking over a fire created by magic, or using water created from magic to boil something,” Lilrim replied. “However, if you were to use either to dry out a piece of meat, remnants of the magic will remain in the food, ruining the taste.”

“Now pay attention ⎯ hold your knife like this…”

They had spent the entire day harvesting the meat and loading it onto the salvaged caravan. What couldn’t be carried was being eaten now as dinner, but even then, more than two-thirds of the Dune Worm had been left in the desert sun and consumed by scavengers. Perhaps it was because of the large quantity of food that was available, but the new arrivals did not bother the small band. Perhaps they sensed that it was the human group that brought down the creature and only came out after the desert folk were done.

“This is actually pretty good.” Eullina grudgingly admitted, tasting the roasted Dune Worm meat that Airen had prepared under Lilrim’s guidance.

“You need to control your flame a little better, as well as season a bit more thoroughly.” Lilrim commented as she also sampled the meat. “But for your first time, well done.”

“I actually have a little bit of experience when it comes to roasting,” Airen confessed, remembering the time when Jourmind had shown him how to prepare and roast a wild goose over a fire. Although that time was not so far ago, it felt like they were from a distant past now to him.

“Did someone teach you?” Eullina asked between bites. “Or did you watch someone do it?”

“A bit of both.” Airen responded quietly. “He was my teacher.”

“It sounds like you had a good teacher, Airen.“ Lilrim said quietly.

“He was. I should have told him.” Airen bit down as he felt his eyes water slightly, before pretending to rub his eyes from the smoke from the fire.

“Oh.” Sensing that she had trudged onto an unpleasant territory, Eullina quickly changed the subject..

“Say Lilrim, are you going to be busy in the mess hall? How are you going to find time to guide Airen?” she questioned.

“Airen will have to learn on the job. He’s a bright and polite lad, what better way to get used to the city than having to interact with everyone? ” Lilrim snorted and turned to Airen. “Cooking is imitation when you know nothing, and only when you have foundational techniques can you learn to create your own dishes. You’d best pay attention if you’re going to be my apprentice.”

“Another chef would be nice,” Eullina admitted. “That way, we don’t have to waste any food that comes from the expeditions.”

“There’s only so many things you can do with dried meat,” Lilrim grumbled. “Hunger is the best spice for you louts anyway.”

“What are these…expeditions?” Airen’s interest was piqued and his thoughts momentarily subsided. Even though he only traveled for a day in the desert, he could not think of any reason to venture out into the maddening midday sun.

“It is our term for a trip outside the city walls. Most of the time, these expeditions are usually a small group of people. This hunting party is the exception, as the more tremors in the sand we cause, the higher the likelihood of attracting larger Dune Worms.” Eullina explained.

“I see.” Airen nodded slowly.

“If you underestimate what it means to live out here, you will surely regret it. About a fourth of the small-scale expeditions never make it back to the city on time.” Eullina shook her head.

“A fourth?” Airen was taken aback at the number.

“Twenty-five percent.” Eullina stressed. “When you set up an expedition, you plan the date of your return. If you do not return within a month past that date, you will be presumed dead. Such is the way in the desert.”

“Wait… you don’t send people out to try and find them?”

“It is too risky. Whatever prevented them from returning… could very well prevent the rescue party from returning as well.” Lilrim explained.

“But isn’t it still worth a try?” Airen pressed.

“Duncan told me that they did try once, a long time ago before he was the city leader. He said that they lost forty warriors that day and refused to say anything else. This is also the reason every expedition with five or less people has to be approved by Duncan before they can leave Tel’naraa.” Eullina explained.

“Oh...” Airen was speechless, he had counted around twenty able-bodied warriors in the current group, and they had flawlessly executed the Dune Worm without sustaining any injuries. What could take out or prevent forty warriors without a single one remaining?

Eullina must have seen the look on his face. “There are two stories behind what happened. One was that mercenaries ambushed them, and they succumbed to their wounds while they were taking shelter from a sandstorm‌. The other one was… they had offended a Great Spirit.”

“A Great Spirit…?” Airen questioned. “Is that what you people call a ‘Divine Beast’?”

“No, no.” Eullina waved her hands in denial. “It’s not exactly a Divine Being, but something we have learned about from old ruins in the desert.. It is said that they know a great deal of the world, and can even grant wishes upon mortals, but to deal with one is to test one’s fate.”

“There are people who have heard voices as they traveled across the ancient sands.” Eullina said quietly. “I myself have heard them before, so do not doubt their existence. You must not heed them, Airen, unless you have prepared well.”

“You shouldn’t have told him so much, Eullina.” Lilrim added. “It’s too soon, and you’ll end up scaring him.”

“I… you’re right.” Eullina admitted.

You should bring the boy to Duncan.” Lilrim sighed. “He may as well learn a bit earlier since we have already mentioned it.”

Airen gazed across the embers toward the empty desert sands. The foreign land now seemed even more strange and less welcoming than before. He rolled around sleeplessly for a while before exhaustion brought about the bliss of sleep.

“Greetings, Elder Duncan.” Eullina called out. They had trekked out early the following morning to evade the midday sun, and were currently taking a rest stop for lunch now that the sun had reached its peak and turned the desert back into a hellscape. A few warriors, including Loys and Lilrim, had left and returned with a large lizard-like creature for their meal.

“Have a seat, Eullina. You too, Airen, don’t be strangers now. We are all children under the eyes of the goddess.” Duncan smiled.

“Are you a priest?” Airen asked, recalling the lessons he learned about the Church of Ecclesia.

“I was... Once.” Duncan shook his head sadly. “The church may have taken away my title, but I am still a humble servant of Lady Ecclisa. But never mind this old man’s stories, what can I help you with?”

“I was hoping that you could explain to me what spirits are.” Airen started.

At the mention of the word, Duncan dropped the scimitar he was holding and stared at Eullina. “Young lady, just because you have recently gone through the Dream Rites does not mean you should mention it to newcomers so quickly. For the goddess’s sake, how old are you Airen?”

“Almost thirteen” he responded meekly.

“Two years younger. Four years' less experience surviving in this forsaken wasteland. He is not remotely ready to go through the Dream Rites.” Duncan turned back to Eullina and scowled.

“Elder Duncan. I simply wished that you would explain the dream spirits to him. It would prepare him when we return to the city... It is his choice whether he will take the ritual anyway.” Eullina held her head down at Duncan’s outburst.

“Very well. There’s no helping it now.” Duncan sighed but relented. “Airen, let me warn you beforehand, a spirit can be your best friend, or your very worst enemy. You are young, too young to be making such heavy choices, but we do not wish to hide secrets from you. Now, what would you like to know?”

“What is a spirit?”

“Let me give you some history first…“ Duncan coughed. “Normally, I would have books and scrolls to show you, but since this is rather abrupt, I will explain it as best as I can.”

“Thirty years ago, my predecessor, the one to found our little desert city, chanced upon some ancient ruins from a bygone civilization. The stories recorded there spoke of beings that were connected to, or were even perhaps embodiments of the forces of nature. And through a ritual we call the Dream Rite, one can encounter and make deals with these spirits.”

“It is called the Dream Rite because as you may have guessed, it happens in a dream, in a specific place. There, our predecessor was approached by one that had the appearance of a white wolf. When he awoke, next to him was a sword of the purest white with an insignia of a wolf on the handle.” Duncan slowly explained.

“So a spirit is… a sword?” Airen summarized.

“Not exactly… Although most people call their spirit a tool of sorts, they are something different for each person. People believed that the dream spirit is the reflection of a person’s soul made manifest. A blacksmith’s spirit could be in the form of a hammer, a writer’s the form of a quill, and so forth.” Duncan returned back to polishing his blade as he continued.

”Some people believe the dream spirits are ghosts of that ancient civilization, or the ghosts of things from another era given form. One popular theory was that they are something that is part of ourselves from a different or previous life.”

“So these… dream spirits can take other forms?”

“Yes. It so happens my dream spirit is a creature, and some people would manifest a piece of armor or equipment.” Duncan replied after thinking about it. “All of this comes from the books of that ancient civilization, so other than our interactions with our own spirits, there is very little explanation that truly explains what they are. I suspect that even the name we call them by, ‘spirits’, is something that may not be accurate.”

“However, not all spirits are benevolent. There are those that die during the Dream Rite, for reasons unknown. They would simply pass away in their sleep, as if their life had been snuffed out.” Duncan warned.

“The most logical explanation, based on what I have seen, is that the Dream Rites reveal to you a spell that only you can cast. And in most cases, it seems like this spell takes the form of something that reflects some facet of who we are.” Duncan theorized. “Sometimes that form is too great, too grand for what we are capable of at that time, and it kills us, hence why I said it may be too early for you.”

“As leader of Tel'naraa, it is my duty to guide newcomers there, if they wish to try and awaken their own powers.” Duncan helped his weapon up and gave a satisfied nod at the sharpness of the edge. “But your age and mental state Airen… is why I am being cautious on your behalf.”

“So… when am I going to take these Dream Rites?” Hearing the promise of power, Airen could not help but feel the need to push forward.

“It is entirely up to you Airen. Some people take it because it gives a glance into your potential, as well as show your magical affinities. It’s our version of an aptitude measurement system, since there is no League of Adventurer’s branch in the Tel’dora Desert. ”

“However… It is not something that one can do easily.“ Duncan must have seen the look on Airen’s face, and he quickly changed his tone. “It takes months, if not years of preparation to teach someone to navigate their own dreams. To the uninitiated, it can lead to death, and even to the initiated, it is a risk. Too easy is it to live in a wonderful dream then confront the cruelness of reality.”

“Now that it’s past midday, it is time we head off. We are almost at Tel’naraa, so there will be time for questions once you are settled in.” Duncan interrupted as Airen was about to reply, cutting him off. “Ruminate on that for a bit, my child, before anything else. Life is precious, and we have other ways to determine your affinities and skills without something so risky.”

He brushed the sand off his robes and stood up. Airen followed suit and Duncan gave him a gentle push towards Eullina, who was already saddling up the scaled horses.

Airen made to speak, but Duncan’s grim look silenced him, clearly finished with the matter.

Two hours later…

“Welcome to The Wandering City of Tel'naraa, Airen.” Eullina smiled mischievously as the small band slowed down and descended from a windswept dune. Although they had taken a detour to avoid a couple of feuding magical beasts, their pace had picked up as many in the group was eager at the prospect of finally arriving home.

“I don’t see anything.” Airen mumbled, the vast expanse of sand the only thing within his sights.

Several of the group members, upon hearing his words, exchanged knowing glances. Many of them had a smile on their face as they watched Airen, clearly anticipating something.

“Um...” Airen mumbled as they continued at their normal pace forward at the wall of sand in front of them. With shock, he watched as just before the first riders crashed into the sand, a hole opened that allowed them to pass through. Airen’s eyes widened and Eullina laughed at his expression.

“The city’s entrance is constantly shifting and we call it the Wandering City because Tel'naraa’s entrance constantly moves itself across the desert. A few nobles from the Red Slate Republic had the notion of trying to claim the city for their own, but they never managed to find it.” Loys explained from beside Airen.

As Airen walked through the hole, a large hand made from sand plucked him up and lifted him up in the air.

“Well, well, who do we have here?” A deep voice called out. The hand tossed him up a few feet in the air before a larger hand appeared out of the sand wall and caught him in the middle of its palm. “Another one? Ah... and this one is so young too!”

“Put him down, Gunter, you’re going to scare the poor boy to death.” Duncan called out. “Must you do this to everyone that passes these walls for the first time?”

A deep rumbling sound emanated from the sand, terrifying Airen before he realized it was laughter. The hand carefully set him down behind Eullina and withdrew back into the shapeless sand.

“Are you alright?” Eullina turned around, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Airen felt his face flush red and quickly nodded. He followed her lead and proceeded through the tunnel. Despite just being tossed around like a pebble, Airen couldn’t take his eyes away from the tunnel walls which were constantly moving about like waves. Although the passage was clearly surrounded by sand on all sides, light somehow managed to sift through the sand and light their path.

As soon as the group of travelers entered the passage, many began to pull off their visored hats and speak in louder terms. Clearly they were happy to be hidden away from the scorching sun and finally safe from the hazards of the deserts. After about ten minutes of trekking they left the tunnel and Airen saw the desert city of Tel’naraa for the first time.

The sun’s rays filtered through the roof of the cavern and reflected on the homes carved into the pale yellow sandstone. Slabs of stone formed roads across the giant cavern’s sides supported by pillars on the layer beneath them, forming a series of caves that were the dwellings of the desert folk. There were stairs that were built into the walls as well, allowing one to travel to and from where they were needed. Although slightly unnatural, it had a haunting beauty of its own or that of a refuge that was hidden from prying eyes.

In the very center of the basin was a large stone fountain that released pure blue water, creating a small pond. It was clear that the fountain was the life-blood of the city, and there were a series of much larger caves by the water’s edge. Airen could make out people moving to and fro at the cave entrance, transporting what seemed to be wheelbarrows of plant life.

Compared to the outside heat, it was much more comfortable inside the city and Airen could feel his fatigue wearing off as his body temperature slowly lowered. As he was taking in the sight, the group split off on its own and he was left with Eullina.

“Welcome... to the city of Tel'naraa.” Eullina echoed. “It’s different from the ones you’re used to, and there’s only enough people nowadays to call it a valley village, but it’s a cozy place we call home.”

“It’s… spectacular.” Airen mumbled. “It’s like an entirely different world down here, like a story out of a fairy tale.”

“Gunter would be happy to hear that. But first, we have a few things to do before I show you around.” Eullina pulled Airen up and pointed to some buildings next to the entrance. There were no distinct markings that set it apart, and as a matter of fact, all of the buildings carved into the stone seemed to be the same. Only by experience would one be able to navigate this desert hideaway.

Eullina led her scaled horse towards the nearby stone building, where the mounts were given to two young men where the abducted caravan was being cannibalized for parts. Upon their arrival, one of the riders from the expedition group came over with a large crate.

“You are Airen, the new guy right? Duncan said that these likely belonged to you.” The man’s body was naked, and Airen could see scars adorning the entire man’s body and face, in thin strips like the wound from a whip.

When the man tried to place the box into Airen’s outstretched arms, he nearly dropped it due to his thin arms being unable to bear the weight. Noticing his predicament, the former slave quickly took it from his arms.

“Where do you live? I’ll have one of my men drop it off tomorrow.”

“He’s with me, Nath.” Eullina answered. After a brief exchange of greetings, Eullina and the man seemed to have a quick conversation which ended in the man laughing and walking away.

Eullina nudged Airen and tilted her head.

“Um… thank you!” Airen shouted at the man’s retreating back.

Nath held the crate in one hand and waved back.

“Respect will get you a long way in Tel'naraa.” Eullina replied after seeing Airen’s behavior. “There are not a lot of us here, so it is only a matter of time until you’ll learn everybody’s name.”

“How many people live in this city?” Airen questioned.

“A bit over three hundred. The number constantly changes but that’s about right.”

“Was everyone here once a...” Airen hesitated to say slaves, remembering Eullina’s reaction before.

“Yes… and no. A majority of us were once slaves, some of us are wanted men, and there are some rogues and criminals among us.” Eullina elaborated. “There are those like you that have been on the wrong side of powerful people, or perhaps been exiled or run away from their homeland.”

“Criminals?”

“If you want a better word, you can say people that have killed another person.” Eullina turned around to face Airen as she stopped walking.

“You? A murderer? But you’re only a bit older than me-”

Hearing Airen’s voice, Eullina’s face turned grim. Her eyes held a deep and noxious darkness to them as she rapidly approached Airen until she was right in front of them.

“Airen, since you are new, let me tell you about our unspoken rule. Here in Tel’naraa, it is taboo to ask someone about their past if they do not wish to speak about it.” Eullina smiled, but her voice and tone was anything but approachable. It was a delicate warning to him to not overstep.

“I⎯” Airen realized that his mannerism of asking was in a questioning tone, one that was useful for probing information out of others in the court. It was a habit that he had learned back in the Imperial Palace, and it was a skill that would get him in trouble here.

“I am telling you this because you should be careful about the way you talk.” Eullina turned around and continued to walk. “I myself can tell that you have no bad intentions because you are very clearly some noble child, but others may not be as ‘civilized’ as you are here. In fact, there are many that would even look at you with hatred because your kind were the type to cause their suffering.”

“Sorry.” Airen apologized.

“Don’t fuss about it. I should have told you earlier.” Eullina clicked her tongue, but she gestured for him to follow her without turning around. “Airen, not all of us had the fortune to be saved, and we had to create our own salvation. The one I killed was scum of the earth, and if I had to make the choice again, I will gladly do it again in a heartbeat.”

“You said you had a sister? Then you will understand if I said I once had a sister as well...” She trailed off and the two of them continued walking silently. Her tone seemed to have ruined the atmosphere, and Airen was afraid to ask anymore questions.

A few moments later, they arrived at a small stone hovel. Following Eullina’s gestures, he walked through the doorless entrance and saw several large rows of tables.

“Welcome to the Tel'naraa mess hall.” a voice called out. Airen looked across the room and saw Lilrim standing behind a counter, decked out in an apron and holding a butcher’s cleaver. “Have a seat, it’s nice to cook with more ingredients, so come try my new dish..”

Airen did as asked, and Eullina took the seat in front of him. Still feeling uncomfortable, he avoided looking into her eyes. Before the awkward silence could continue however, two large bowls of yellow stew were placed in front of both of them, as well as a loaf of dark brown bread. Without a word, Eullina took out a small knife and split the bread in half, handing it off to Airen. They dug into the meal as Lilrim watched them expectantly.

“Fabulous as always, Lilrim,” Eullina commended. “I wish you would stay in the city more often as our head chef instead of adventuring outside.”

“It cannot be helped. I am one of the few with a spirit that can detect life out there among the sands.” Lilrim shrugged, pointing at the cleaver in her other hand.

“Even though it's designed to cleave away life, it seems to be quite the hungry tool as well.” Lilrim chuckled at the ironic nature of her own weapon.

“Ha ha...” Eullina laughed unenthusiastically before returning to her meal.

“Your spirit tool is a cleaver?” Airen asked between spoons of meat. After having carving out and cooking the Dune Worm himself, he found that his apprehension and disgust at monster meat had vanished.

“They say a spirit tool is a reflection of oneself, so it’s an appropriate form for someone like me. What do you think of the dish, Airen?” Lilrim explained and changed the subject.

“It is not as good as last time, but I do not understand how you managed to do this. The taste of the smoked jerky seems to mask the odor of the Dune Worm meat.” Airen confessed. “This doesn’t make sense since I would have thought the fresh meat would overpower⎯”

“Good, good! It is nice to have a certain someone that can understand and appreciate my cooking. You see, Airen, it's one thing to enjoy the cooking, and another to understand the artistic creation of it. The buffoons in this place don’t know how to enjoy quality work!” Lilrim huffed and interrupted.

“There’s herbs and spices in it that I have never tasted before,“Airen quickly added, trying to stay humble.

“Even though we exist in the middle of nowhere, there are certain things that you can only find here. ” Lilrim turned to Eullina. “Have you shown Airen here the underground farms yet?”

“Not yet. I was going to take him there afterwards...” Eullina shrugged.

“In that case, Airen, child. Take a good look around,” Lilrim said. “It is said that beneath Tel’naraa lies a series of tunnels that was once a grand dungeon. Although it has long since been abandoned and fallen into disrepair, some of the local fauna remained.”

“There’s no danger since there are no magical beasts.” Eullina added “But⎯”

She was interrupted as a familiar face entered the canteen. Seeing the three of them together, Loys bustled over, holding

“Lilrim, my dear! Kindly give this tired soul some of your glorious food! It’s been eight weeks since I have properly enjoyed a proper meal!”

“Loys, sit down and tell me what you’d like. Simple Teq stew should be more than enough for the likes of you. ” Lilrim seemed to grumble, but she clearly enjoyed the praise.

“I will have the usual as well as whatever those two brats are having over there.” Loys pointed a thumb behind him. After he placed his , he walked over to where Airen was sitting and sat down next to him, putting an arm over his shoulder.

“Airen boy, welcome to Tel'naraa, the only city where you can eat food this good!” Loys laughed. “Even in nearby countries, it costs an arm and a leg to have a meal from a skilled chef.”

“Thanks.” Airen felt like he heard the term ‘welcome’ a bit too many times already. Were they trying to make him feel comfortable? “You are leaving already? Where are you going?”

“Back to the mercenary company in the Red Slate Republic,” Loys replied. “My job is to mingle among the common folk there, you see, and find out whatever needs to be found out.”

“He’s a sellsword on the surface, but in reality, he is a spy,” Eullina put bluntly.

“Well, I suppose the term is spy. I used to be part of the Shrouded Chevaliers, at least until my captain left me for dead and gave me this.” Loys shrugged.He pointed towards the long scar that went from his left eye down to his chin.

“After that I was picked up by Duncan, and I have been following him ever since.” Loys continued, “But then again, I suppose nearly all of us have been picked up by Palad⎯ I mean Father Duncan at one point or another, “

“If there’s anything you need, Airen boy, just ask. You’re one of us now, fellow brothers in arms.” He pulled Airen closer with his arm and proclaimed loudly. “In fact, that’s also the reason I am here. Duncan filled me in on the story, so I came to see you.”

“Loys, my sister-” Airen hesitated for a moment, thinking back to Eullina’s words about slavery, before speaking quietly. “Can you find her?”

“Tell me what she looks like, her name, mannerisms, as much as you can.” He passed a glance at Eullina before speaking. As soon as he got down to business, Loy’s demeanor changed entirely. He sat up straight and crossed his arms, fingers tapping as if calculating something.

“Her name is Yuelei, long black hair with black eyes, she should have a hairpin with three jewels on it.” Airen said quietly. “She’s my twin, so we should look somewhat alike.”

He then went on to describe some of her behavior and mannerisms, how she was a better fighter then he was and was also very good at reading others.

“I will do my best. If she is in the Red Slate Republic, I will find whispers of her without a doubt.” Loys swore. Without waiting for a reply, he stood up and walked to the counter.

“Hey Lilrim, just give me what you’ve got. I am going to head back tonight since time will be of the essence.”

Airen was surprised at Loys’ sudden change in attitude and just as he turned to ask Eullina, he stopped at the sight of her face. Her head was down and a bitter smile was plastered on her face. She wordlessly placed her empty dishes on the counter and stood up to leave.

Unsure what to do, Airen looked at the counter to see Lilrim mouthing at him to follow Eullina. He quickly placed his dishware onto the counter as well and sprinted after her.

“He is a good boy, that Airen. Not as spoiled as I’d have expected from him.” Lilrim mumbled, placing a large clothed parcel in front of Loys as well as a bowl of the yellow stew. “Loys, it wasn’t your fault. You did all you could, and Eullina understands that.”

Loys sighed and spooned the stew into his mouth in silence.

Airen had quietly followed Eullina for a while afterward. Seeing him trailing behind her, she showed Airen around the city in silence, taking him to the underground gardens where the herbs, mushrooms, and a blackened wheat were grown, irrigated by the water that flowed from the central fountain in the center of town.

She then led him to where several notable people lived, including Duncan and Gunter. It turned out that Gunter was a particularly powerful earth mage at the rank of ascendant. He was responsible for maintaining the monitoring and secrecy of Tel’narra.

Then she took him to the armory where four people crafted items, making everything that the small village needed from tools to clothing. According to Eullina, there was also a small amount of ore in the caves beneath Tel’naraa, supplying a small amount of raw material that served their needs.

Finally, they arrived at her home as dusk was falling.

She opened the door and wordlessly beckoned Airen inside. After she turned on a small lamp on a stone desk, Airen saw what would be his home for the first time.

Two fur-covered beds were in each corner of the room, atop shabby mattresses that seemed to be created from stuffed grasses. In the center was a large circular stone table with chairs protruding from it, clearly made from magic, and not unlike the ones Airen had seen Jourmind make. Several dried herbs that hung from the ceiling gave the room an earthy, but pleasant aroma.

There was a small fireplace in the other corner, barely large enough to hold a single medium sized pot while assorted metal utensils dangled above it. Beside it was all manner of small bags which Airen could see bits of dried meat and grains spilling out of. Finally, a large slab of stone with a handle laid in the corner, seemingly covering something beneath.

Eullina gestured for him to sit as she walked towards her bed and hung her gear above it. She took a small pot from behind the fireplace and lifted the slab of stone.

So that was actually a water basin. Airen thought as she filled the pot with water and started the fire with a flick of her wrist. The sound of the crackling flames echoed in the quiet chamber, and Airen began to get anxious at the unsettling silence.

When the water boiled, Eullina tossed a few herbs in, making an unrefined tea. After a few minutes, she poured the drinks into two clay cups and placed one in front of Airen. As he reached out an arm for the cup, Eullina’s voice broke the silence.

“Since we will be living together now. I suppose you want an explanation,” Eullina started as she cupped her own mug.. “My full name is Eullina Ludurva, and my younger sister was Lourvi Ludurva. We were born two years apart as children of a family tied to a royal dynasty that escaped to the Dew Plains.”

At her words, Airen’s heart jolted with an unexplainable emotion. At seeing Airen’s face, Eullina smiled bitterly.

“You’re a noble too aren’t you Airen? The burden it means to bear a name, the weight it means to have to continue on the family mantle, you understand as well. To slowly kill oneself, to dedicate the name of ‘duty’ to the family.” Eullina said quietly.

“Even though we had left our country, declaring our intent to stay out of any affairs, still we fell into the crossfire when my grandfather died. Even in death, he was a bastard through and through that would not leave us in peace. Assassins from the other houses attacked us, murdering my parents with poisons and underhanded tactics. As for my sister and I, we were sold into slavery.”

“...It’s a common story.” She added quietly.

Airen stared at Eullina across the table, but did not say a word; rather, he did not know how to respond. Eullina slowly sipped her tea and continued her story.

“I was the lucky one. As I was being transported to who knows where, I was rescued, just like you were. I asked Loys to find her, but it still took him an entire year to track her down. Certain pedigrees have high value and fetch the most secretive of buyers, you see.” Eullina’s face darkened and a scowl slowly crept onto her face.

“When we finally found her, she was… a husk of what she was before. She had became a plaything, drugged to the point of losing her mind. She… was no longer my sister.“ Eullina halted a few times as if she was unsure about continuing, but she nevertheless forced out the next words.

“I personally killed that abomination of a human with my own two hands. Airen. I gutted him like the pig he was and dragged out his intestines and forced him to devour them. I carved out his eyes, mutilated his face, removed his testicles, and poured his favorite red wine over his wounds. Magic is an amazing tool for torture you see. When I was done with him, he was unrecognizable.” A haunting smile crept onto Eullina’s face as she recalled the memory. The vivid imagery made goosebumps cross Airen’s arms, and he clenched his hands against the ceramic mug.

“I tell you this Airen, because hope is the greatest motivator and deadliest toxin. The Red Slate Republic treats human lives like goods and toys.” Eullina finished. “I tell you this, because there may be a day where I have to do something drastic for you that you may never forgive me for.”

“You cannot understand how I felt after my anger slowly drained away and I cradled my broken sister. In my stupor, Loys pulled me away, stating that we had to leave before the guards came. But ‌I had no will to leave, and I was ready to die alongside my sister.” Eullina confessed quietly. “Revenge fulfilled and burdened with sorrow... I no longer cared about what happened tomorrow.”

“When I refused to leave, Loys took matters into his own hands. He knocked me out and ended Luvi’s life. or what was left of her. It was the right call, a necessary action that I could not bring myself to do.” Eullina said painfully. “But even today, I wonder if there would be some sort of magic that would heal her, bring her back, and return my sister to me.”

“He may have saved my life that day, but to forgive something like that is hard. Airen. Sometimes I tell myself, if only Loys had found her earlier, if only Loys hadn’t killed her, if I had taken the Dream Rites earlier, if I had focused on training, if then maybe she would still be here to call me ‘big sis’ again.” Eullina laughed mockingly at herself.

“And that is my story of how I became a murderer, Airen. It is something you should know. But even I knew that she... Luvi was already dead long before that.” she paused and they sat in silence.

“I tell you this Airen, so that you do not end up in the same situation as I was in.” Eullina looked up and met Airen’s eyes with burning determination. “And if you do, trust in your friends in your moment of weakness, and forgive me for doing what must be done if you cannot do it.”

That night, Airen twisted and rolled with a sense of guilt so heavy that he could not fall asleep. Eullina’s emotional story had struck him with a profound realization of his current helplessness and lack of control.

…

Airen woke up the following morning to the sound of Eullina’s voice.

“Wake up, Airen. There are things to be done.”

He rubbed away the redness from his eyes and sat up. Noticing a hand handing him a cup, he took it and downed it all at once, expecting it to be water.

“What exactly is this?” Airen looked at the pitch black liquid in the cup and then at Eullina, who was calmly sipping her own.

“A type of herbal tea that Lilrim recommended. It is good for you to recover your physique, so down it even if it tastes foul.”

Making a bitter face but still bringing the cup to his mouth, Airen chugged down the vicious-tasting tea and true to her word, his fatigue from staying up late slowly left him.

“This is magical.” Airen commented, staring at the inside of the empty cup.

“Stop dilly-dallying and get moving, there are two places that we need to visit.” Eullina reprimanded, no trace of the gloom from the night prior. “Wash your face as well, your eyes are swollen.”

“Where are we going?” Airen realized that his actions last night were revealed easily, but Eullina made no comment about it outside of warning him.

“You will see soon enough.” Eullina shrugged. “It is something necessary for you.”

Hearing her words, Airen remembered the conversation from last night and quickly nodded his head in gratitude.

Two hours later.

“I yield! I yield!” Airen held up his hands and dropped the sword in his hands.

Eullina had taken him to a small training arena by the smithy, and there they had been sparring for the past half hour. It was a trial, a gauge of Airen’s abilities, but each time resulted in Airen losing after a few exchanges. Standing in front of him, Eullina deftly swung around with a pair of short swords.

“Come on, Airen. You basically admitted that you were a noble, and I know that nobles have trainers. I thought you would be better than this!” Eullina taunted.

“This rapier doesn’t really fit my hand,” Airen complained. “It’s nowhere near like the one I used to use!”

“Have you never sparred with blunted weapons?” Eullina shrugged. “Did you think we can actually find wood out here to make training weapons, or have one custom-made for your use? Surely you jest, my sire. Now stand up and let’s go again!”

“How about this? If you beat me in the next round, we’ll go have a bath and breakfast.” Eullina offered at the face of Airen’s downcast face.

“I thought the water was precious-” Airen sighed and picked up the blunt metal rapier again, but before he could finish, Eullina closed the distance and slashed at his hand.

Airen blocked the flurry of blows that came in succession, but not without suffering bruises and welts on his hands. Seeing an opening between Eullina’s pattern of attacks, he swung the rapier, causing Eullina to retreat backward. Before she could catch her balance Airen quickly put his arm back, gathering energy and preparing to release a Sonic Thrust.

However, to his surprise, nothing was released from his weapon. In fact, Airen felt a sharp pain against his chest, as if his heart was being crushed and a massive weight pressed against his ribs.

“Airen! Are you okay!?” Airen could barely make out the voice as his vision blurred, and in the next moment, he felt control of his body falter and he started top down on the ground. His rapier dropped in front of him, leaving it dangerously close as he fell.

“What’s wrong?” In the next moment, Airen could make out Eullina’s voice as she had caught him before he could crash to the ground. She had closed the distance and knocked away Airen’s rapier before he could injure himself.

“I… don’t know. I tried to use a weapon skill…”

“You must not have recovered from being a captive. We should see Duncan.” Eullina quickly looked him up and down and taking in his paled skin and clammy pallor. Seeing the commotion, a few people had started to make their way over in concern.

“I am fine. Just need to catch my breath.” Almost as suddenly as it had come, the sensation seemed to have passed, leaving Airen feeling a sense of loss. Try as he might, when he tried to gather magical power, the energy dissipated as if flowing out of a broken cup.

“You don’t seem fine, what’s the problem?” Eullina asked, and Airen hesitated for a second before he informed her of what happened.

“That’s usually how one feels when trying to use an element that they are not familiar with.” One passerby commented after overhearing their words.

“Airen, have you had your ceremony yet to figure out what elements you have an affinity with?” Eullina quickly asked. “If not, it is best if you don’t use any random spells you may have picked up. It has chances of backfiring on the user if it's a dangerous one.”

“I haven’t…” Airen replied slowly, but before he could ask about the pain, Eullina quickly continued,

“Unfortunately, the only way we will find out for you is the Dream Rites, or traveling to the Red Slate Republic,” Eullina explained. “Let’s talk to Duncan after we bathe and eat, and maybe he will have some insight into what we can do.”

Brushing off their clothes and thanking the passersby who had approached to help, Eullina led Airen towards a series of stackers by the entrances to the underground caves, leaving him at the entrance of one particular one that seemed to be marked with the symbol of rising steam.

After fumbling around outside in the men’s changing room for a while, not sure what to do, he asked one of the patrons who laughed and pointed him toward the water springs. Some of the channels that Airen saw connecting to the local fountain were diverted here and used for bathing, which were then funneled into the underground caves to be used for the crops.

When he entered, he noticed Duncan sitting in one corner, with his eyes closed.

Is he sleeping? Airen wondered. He tried to tiptoe towards the water, but slipped on the wet stone and landed with a splash into the small pool. At the sound, Duncan opened his eyes.

“Watch the ground. It is rather slippery.” Duncan laughed. “Why don’t you come over here and have a seat by me?” he patted the stone bench he sat on, half submerged in water.

“Thank you, Elder Duncan.” Airen meekly walked over and sat down. Because of his height, the water came up to his shoulders, which left him warm and comforted inside.

“Not you too, Airen, just call me Duncan, or Father Duncan if you insist.” Duncan groaned. “I am still more than able to defeat any of you with a sword or spell.”

“Yes, Father Duncan...” Airen mumbled. In truth, he felt awkward sitting next to a naked man for the first time.

“How do you like Tel'naraa? I hope we have been accommodating to your needs,” Duncan asked. “It might be a sudden change of pace, but here, all work is rewarded and everyone wants to contribute.”

“Everyone… is really kind,” Airen responded. Even though he only knew a few people by name, the actions of those he had seen had left an impression on him.

“Good, good.” Duncan chuckled. “If you have questions, you can ask anyone you know, and I am sure they would be glad to help. Do you have questions for me, young one?”

“What… am I supposed to do now?” Airen fumbled for a moment but decided to voice his concerns.

“Well, for now, Lilrim has accepted you as her apprentice, so you’ll be learning and working with her in the mess hall as you get used to life here.” Duncan turned to Airen and stared into his eyes. “But that’s not the answer you are looking for, is it? What do you need to do, Airen?”

“To find my sister, but Loys, he⎯ ”

“And are you fine with just waiting? What if she isn’t in the Red Slate Republic?” Duncan pressed. “What will you do then?”

“I want to find her myself. I… need to see it with my own eyes.” Airen said with conviction, his thoughts turning to Eullina’s story from last night.

“And what if she already passed into the Goddess’s embrace?” Duncan continued.

“Then I will find who caused all of this and have my revenge.” Airen’s small hands balled into a fist. “Yuli- she, she was always a better person than I was. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Revenge is a dangerous thing, Airen. I have seen many good men ruin themselves because of it.” Duncan furrowed his brows. “Nobody is born a criminal, Airen. What will you do after you have achieved your revenge?”

Airen pondered about Duncan’s words for a while.

“Then… I want to find out why,” he concluded quietly. “And when I know, I will decide what to do from there.”

And for that, I need strength, and to know myself Airen thought to himself.

“That is good, and better,” Duncan commented. He leaned back content and relaxed, thinking that he had just guided another lost lamb on the right path.

“Father Duncan.” Airen’s tone was firm, a stark contrast to his stuttering words from before.

“What is it, my child?” Duncan sensed a slight apprehension at what was coming, but he decided it was time he slept in the bed he had made.

“Please teach me how to take the Dream Rites.”