Arc One: Awakening

Chapter 13: Gateway in the Sand

The heat of Eternity surpassed any other. Stifled to the point of panting and producing more sweat than he thought possible, Alek trekked across the dunes. The land slithered soft, and he forced himself to slow to avoid another painful tumble.

As a child, he'd spent his days playing on the coast of Celestria, running the length of the shoreline with his older cousins in search of treasure or grain crabs to watch. But this sand was different. It vibrated with life, moving with the flow of the world and adjusting as soon as he put a foot down. He could only imagine how he'd appeared in the first few weeks, blundering about like a newborn animal determinedly endeavouring to get his bearings.

A whistled gust tugged at the flimsy fabric draped over his light hair and he tucked the stray ends under his chin. Throughout his travels, he'd met with an abundance of kindness. People noticed his youth and provided him with advice on travelling between the small towns. Some gave him items to help him survive the tough desert conditions. An old man with a wealth of stories had presented him with a shawl to protect his head, and a kindly woman had insisted that he stay with her family for a short time. She made certain that when he left, he had enough supplies for the onward journey. He hadn't quite known what to make of their innate selflessness. It seemed like the most natural behaviour to the locals, and despite the meek distrust from a few, the many showed unwavering hospitality.

Once he'd navigated the steepest dunes, the flatlands stretched out toward the coiled ascent of Azuris, his view of the city distorted in a sheet of heat haze. On his left, he could make out the ruins of a tower, sharp rocks floating between two colossal pillars of glass. Rainbow patterns swirled in the sand and he gingerly avoided the glimmer, having been unfortunate enough to skim a reflection during his second week.

The burn on his arm still flaked, and almost instinctively, he scratched at the blotchy smudge. A bead of blood expanded from the angry red marks and he hissed at the uncomfortable twinge. Azuris is up ahead, he told himself encouragingly, pushing aside the prickle of pain from his injuries. Not long to go now.

He'd absorbed details about the capital from those in the surrounding cities for months. It was commonly accepted that although the inhabitants shared the hospitable way of Eternity's people, strange superstitions ran rampant. The generous woman who'd offered him refuge spoke often of Azuris. Stories of her childhood captivated him, and she told him of the city's previous leader who had been gripped by false beliefs until the citizens revolted. "Don't worry yourself, kid," she'd chuckled at his concern. "It's all changed since then, but you'd do well to remain cautious. There's still some irrationality in those walls that won't be swayed to reason."

Despite his fears, he had decided it was best to see for himself what the central city held. As he twisted the top of his flask and drank deep, he hesitated to catch his breath. He pushed aside the earthy tang of the warm water and gulped it down as though it were the sweetest nectar, sparing a little for his burns. He tipped the neck of the bottle bit by bit until clear droplets splashed onto his arm and dabbed along the drying blood.

The telltale clank of roaming cities chimed in the distance and he picked up a faint alarm in the seconds before the ground shook. He spun round and examined the canyons behind him. Clouds of lavender and apricot hovered above the ridges, white streaks cutting through them.

Alek stuffed his flask back into his pocket and propelled himself into a quick walk. The electric storm ripped across the plains like an advancing army, blotting out the sun and galloping towards him on crackling hooves. Not wishing to be fried alive when the first fork struck, he broke into an urgent sprint.

For the final half a mile, he kept ahead of the oncoming storm and reached the security of Azuris' boundaries before the first fork of lightning struck the sand. The grains captured the electricity and propelled it at the protective shield. A weak vibration trembled up the sides of the dome.