The Sins of the God King

Chapter 22: Xan

Five days had passed since Xan and his dwindling group embarked on their treacherous journey across the wailing sea. What was once a band of twenty had now been reduced to a mere eight. The desolate wasteland stretched endlessly before them, devoid of any signs of sustenance - no food, no water. One by one, they succumbed to the merciless grip of starvation and dehydration.

Xan, despite his advanced age, fought to cling to life, as did Maru, whose broken arm grew more dire with each agonizing step. They had carried a meager supply of fish and water for their travels, but they had never anticipated the barrenness of the land they now traveled. Their provisions had been depleted three days ago. Exhausted and weakened, they trudged onward, their bodies pushed to the brink.

Talim, fell to his knees, his strength finally giving way. Xan, sensing the desperation in his comrades, declared,

 "We should rest." With those words, they all sank down onto the sandy ground, their weary bodies finding temporary respite.

Maru, spoke up amidst the silence. "We should stop trying, Xan. this is pointless. It seems the more we try , to worse we will get." Xan wrestled with his own internal conflict, torn between his duty to lead and the harsh reality of their dire situation. "If we give up now, all that we have endured will have been in vain," he countered.

"But look at us, Xan! We are nothing more than walking corpses. I can barely summon the strength to dreamwalk anymore, such is the extent of my exhaustion," Maru exclaimed, her frustration spilling forth. Xan 's gaze locked with hers, and he implored her, "We have come too far, Maru. Find the courage within you for the sake of our people."

Maru, weary and disillusioned, dismissed his words. "Spare me your empty encouragement. I cannot forget the words of that warlock before we entered the wailing sea - 'The God King shall save the faithful and condemn the wicked.' Most of us are faithful, and yet here we are, condemned to this fate."

Just then, a therian man approached Xan, his somber expression conveying grim news. "I believe Talim is dead," he said quietly. Xan 's heart sank, and he rushed to Talim's side, desperately seeking any sign of life. But as he listened intently, he heard only the haunting silence, confirming Talim's passing.

The weight of grief hung heavy in the air as silence engulfed the group. Talim, a dear friend to Xan for many years, had fallen victim to the unforgiving journey. Xan 's heart ached with sorrow, and the realization of his friend's passing weighed heavily upon him.

A hand gently rested on Xan 's shoulder, drawing his attention. It was one of the wraiths, a woman with long dark hair and visible scratches on her face. With a tremor in her voice, she spoke,
"I understand the pain you feel," she began. "But I know Talim would want us to survive. Let his body be our salvation. There are dry woods nearby that we can use to start a fire."

Xan's gaze shifted towards her, his eyes filled with anger. "What are you suggesting?!" he exclaimed. The woman recoiled in fear, taken aback by Xan 's outburst. Another man, dressed in tattered clothes, stepped between them, attempting to ease the tension. " Xan, listen... It's a matter of survival. We can either bury him and eaten by insects, sealing our own fate, or..." his voice trailed off.

Before he could finish his thought, Xan 's fist connected with the man's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious. Xan, consumed by rage, retrieved his axe, prepared to deliver a final blow. However, Maru swiftly intervened, stepping in front of Xan to stop him. "Stop, Xan!" she pleaded. "As dreadful as it may seem, we must do what is necessary to survive. If you want us to keep going, we have to make this sacrifice."

In frustration, Xan threw his axe into the air, watching it spin before it clattered to the ground. He turned away from the group, his emotions swirling within him. The remaining men, witnessing this tense exchange, slowly rose to their feet, driven by a grim determination. They began gathering dry wood, some had their hands already working to ignite a fire.