Ashen Light

Chapter 10: Unwavering

For days, their journey had been marked by a rhythm of grueling travel, sparse water breaks, and the silence of shifting sand. The heat during the day had made them stick to traveling at night, each moonlit march blending into the next. They had encountered more demons—strange creatures, twisted shadows of animals and humans alike—wandering aimlessly or tearing at whatever they could find, scraps of metal, tufts of desert brush. Most were small enough to ignore, though a few times, they'd taken to hiding until the demons lumbered off into the darkness.

Every few hours, Zack would mutter a joke or complain about the sand, and Skylar would huff or roll her eyes. Cyrus had mostly kept to himself, leading them in silence, his blade steady at his side, his eyes flickering now and then with a faint golden light whenever a demon passed too close.

Each evening before nightfall, they'd set up a small camp, keeping their fire low to avoid unwanted attention. With each night, the familiarity between the three grew, though they never quite shook off the tension that the demons' presence cast over them. The journey was both a test of patience and endurance, yet their goal - the temple - drew them forward, a quiet, unspoken hope binding their steps.

And now, under the stars and around the warmth of a small campfire, they found a rare moment of peace. 

They settled in for the night under the open desert sky, surrounded by low dunes and sparse desert brush. The stars were sharp and endless above, scattering their cold light across the sands, and the warmth of their small fire offered some relief from the nighttime chill.

Zack leaned back, folding his arms behind his head with a satisfied sigh. "You know, for all its heat and constant danger of death by dehydration, the desert has some nice perks." He tilted his head toward the stars. "Pretty, isn't it?"

Skylar snorted. "You sound like you're trying to sell it. 'Welcome to the Solis Dunes, home of hostile wildlife, scorching heat, and no water for miles. But hey, the stars are lovely.'" Her tone was dry, but there was a faint smile as she gazed upward.

Cyrus, seated across from them and tending to the fire, managed a faint smile. "I'm with Zack on this one. There's something... peaceful about it. Quiet." He shifted his gaze up at the sky as well, his face softened by the firelight. For a moment, he seemed distant, as though drawn by something unseen, but he quickly refocused.

Skylar gave him a curious glance. "You really seem to know this place. Spent a lot of time here?"

"My whole life," Cyrus replied, his voice subdued, "but there's a lot about the desert that feels familiar." He shrugged, and then, almost to himself, added, "Apollousa has a way of leaving her mark here."

That comment hung in the air for a moment, and Zack gave him a sideways look. "Apollousa, right? Never heard much about her growing up. Just old god stories. People say she's a bit... selective."

"Selective," Cyrus murmured with a faint nod, "but powerful."

The fire crackled softly as they sat around it, each lost in thought. Zack leaned back, tossing a few more twigs into the flames and watching the embers spark up, breaking the silence with a sigh.

"Gotta say, Cyrus," he muttered, "I don't know how you keep so calm with all this... stuff around. Demons, temples, gods - all of it. Like it's just another day for you."

Cyrus glanced at him, his expression still unreadable. "It's... not really a choice," he replied. "When you grow up with a purpose, you don't think about it too much. You just do it."

Zack scoffed lightly, shaking his head. "Sounds simple enough. Me, though? I'd like to know what I'm heading toward before I run off into the dark. Keeps the sanity intact."