Another story

Volume 2 Chapter 2: Descend to the ruins

Underneath the caverns of the Sumeru desert, an unfamiliar silhouette engages against multiple mechanical sentinels. The sound of metal clashing against metal and the crackle of electricity echoed through the caverns.

"Well, that was a wrong decision to venture here alone," I muttered as I fended off the attacking sentinels.

However, with each sentinel fallen, another appeared to take its place, gradually chipping away at my stamina. My movements began to grow sluggish as fatigue set in.

"I have been careless," I thought to myself, noticing a sentinel appearing at my flank. Occupied by the sentinel in front of me, I was unable to counter as it charged up its attack.

Out of the blue, a vague figure appeared. "Always notice your flank, kiddo," he said jokingly as he struck the sentinel down with one strike.

"Anyways, are you named Rilal by any chance?" He asked while approaching me. He seemed to be around Tighnari's height. His hair is white like snow, accompanied by a pair of blue eyes resembling those of the clear blue sky. But what's the deal with his clothing? I have never seen that style before. Is he from Fontaine?.

"Yes, I am. Thanks for helping me back there. Who are you?" i answered

"People call me sans, but you can call me shiro as well," he answered my question as he took out something that looked like a commission paper. "I'm here to help you with this commission of yours."

While I am thankful he helped me back there. How did he manage to find me? Sumeru dessert is huge; it is hard to find people on the surface, let alone down here in this cavern, and he managed to do that with precise accuracy, as if he has an indicator of where I am at all times.

"So you are the infamous traveler?" I asked him. honestly, he doesn't look like what I imagined him to be.

"A friend of his, the traveler is busy, so I'll help you," he replied.

"Can you not call me that? I don't really like being called like that," I said while crossing my arms. Being called like that makes me feel like he only sees me as a child, even though we are still practically at the same height, and I was a bit disappointed when I didn't get to meet the infamous traveler.

"You'll come to like that eventually, but sure," he replied. I do not approve of his rather carefree expressions to my request, but at least he complied.

"Well, you came here to accept the commission, right?. Then let's go," I said as I guided him through the tomb's gate.

As we descended deeper into the tomb, we were met with a desolate scenery of broken walls and blocks of granite lying along a barely visible pathway covered in sand. The sentinels can be seen going around the place seemingly just doing their job, guarding something that was so much more to them; perhaps they were once proud achievements, the guardians of this place, a testament to the power their creators once held. But now, they are husks, a haunting echo of a once-majestic place lost to the relentless passage of time.

"I wonder, what would this place look like in its prime," sans said, looking around the place. I too wondered like him, such structures like this, buried away under the sand. The fools at the academia, while claiming themselves as scholars of things like this, never wondered this question.

"I have no clue as well, though I hope one day we will find out," I answered as we continued our venture deeper and deeper, keeping our guard on at all times. whatever secrets this place protects. I will be the one to uncover it; maybe then...

"Heads up, kiddo," he said as some eremites appeared to ambush us; perhaps they have the same purpose as me, or they simply want to find whatever treasure lies here for riches, but in the end, my response to them will always be the same; they are in my way.