The Sins of the God King

Chapter 24: Xan

The gush of wind woke Xan from his restless slumber, the tiny particles of sand stinging his face like a thousand needles. The sun had risen, painting the barren landscape with its unforgiving heat. His eyes scanned the desolate area, but there was no sign of Maru. Instead, an overwhelming stench of rotting blood filling up the air.

His heart sank as he looked upon the lifeless bodies of his fallen comrades, now surrounded by swarms of sand fleas. The once valiant and vibrant individuals now lay motionless. He tried to stand, but his knees buckled under the weight of exhaustion. Determination surged within him, and he attempted again, using his trusty axe as a crutch to support his weakened body.

His mind was a tumult of conflicting emotions. The scene before him was too much to bear. He knew he had to escape this place, to leave behind the gruesome reminders of the horrors that had unfolded here. Maru's absence gnawed at him, and he feared that something terrible had befallen her.

Summoning every ounce of remaining strength, Xan steadied himself and began his arduous journey northward. Each step felt like a battle in itself, but he pressed on, driven by the need to survive and the hope that he might find answers and safety in the unforgiving desert landscape.

The journey was grueling, and his body screamed with fatigue and thirst. The harsh sun beat down on him mercilessly, but he pushed forward, his determination the only thing keeping him going. As he trudged through the endless waste, his mind drifted back to his fallen comrades and the horrors they had faced together.

Time seemed to blur as he continued his solitary march, each minute merging into the next. With each passing moment, he grew weaker, his body desperately yearning for sustenance and water. Yet, he soldiered on, fighting against the relentless odds, his thoughts consumed by the uncertainty of Maru's fate.

Under the scorching sun at its peak, Xan 's strength flickered like a dying candle. After hours of grueling walking, he finally sought respite beneath the cover of a withered, dead tree. His body felt like it had reached the brink of exhaustion, and his legs ached with every step. Collapsing to the ground, he wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to rise again.

With a heavy heart, he checked the wound on his back. The bleeding had subsided, but a festering infection now plagued him. He knew he needed to find sustenance and water, but the barren landscape offered little hope. The stories he had heard about Torryn being rich in vegetation and teeming with life now seemed like distant fantasies. Fate had led them to a land that betrayed all their expectations.

Desperation pushed him to search for anything edible. In his weakened state, he spotted something squirming in the ground and seized it without hesitation. Uncertain of what he had captured, he placed the unfortunate insect in his mouth and chewed, enduring its terrible taste. Despite the unpleasantness, the morsel brought a modicum of relief to his growling stomach. Taking a deep breath, he decided to continue moving when the sun reach noon.

As he looked at the vast emptiness of the horizon made him reflect on their original mission, now almost forgotten amidst the struggle for survival. He had been so preoccupied with staying alive that he had lost sight of their purpose. How would he, a lone figure battered by the harsh desert, infiltrate kingdoms or pillage villages? The daunting reality of his solitude weighed heavily on him.

Xan sought refuge in the shadow of his weary mind. Memories of Navo'ri came flooding back, a time of struggles when he would bow his head and fervently pray to the God King for guidance. But now, that once revered name could not even be uttered within his thoughts. Something deep inside him had broken, shattered by Maru's words and the harrowing ordeals he had endured. The very purpose he had believed in for so long now seemed hollow and meaningless.