Cairo

Chapter 3: Dr. Savas

Traveling in a desert was no easy task. Cairo knew the risks better than anyone. He was traveling to one of the harshest deserts in Cairo, the great desert Basia—a rough climate even for animals specifically designed to withstand the desert climate. Adventurers liked going there to take a chance at snagging a newly evolved species that couldn't be found anywhere else. Not many of them made it back alive; there was less than a handful. It was said people couldn't inhabit these lands, and with the way the scorching heat felt like it was burning straight through Cairo's wounds, he got the feeling that it wasn't just a rumor these lands were uninhabitable.

The sand camel's constant bumps not only caused Cairo to get motion sick, it was highly uncomfortable in another area. He constantly shifted in the saddle every time the camel would dip down and back up, grumbling under his breath. While Cane's face said it all—he was more uncomfortable than he'd been in his whole life—much like Aerie who sat quietly behind Cairo, he didn't say one word. Occasionally Cairo would catch him sneaking glances at him, but the moment they almost made eye contact, Cane would snap his head back and focus on the scenery around him (which wasn't much of anything besides sand).

Cane sighed, slouching further down on his camel. His face scrunched up, but he didn't make note of the problem Cairo could already guess. "You'd think we'd be able to see at least one tree or something around here, but no, not even plants live here anymore. This god forsaken desert can't even hold life, so what makes you think a Kleptos card is way out here?"

"I was talking to one of the camel herders before we left while I was waiting for the order to go through," Cairo said, not taking his eyes off the road ahead of him. "He told me something interesting, actually. Said that the famous Dr. Savas started to resided out here for some kind of research with the ruins."

"Dr. Savas? You mean that really famous doctor that helped with the Kleptos research bang the Government had a couple years back? Everyone said he went off radar and most people expected he died sometime after. I heard some rumors saying the Government might have killed him off to keep quiet on whatever they were doing, but if he's really here, that seems to be more in our favor unlike last time."

Cairo nodded. "I think Dr. Savas being here is a good lead. From sources, I'd heard say that although he was formally dismissed from his Klepots work by the Government, he still hasn't given up on anything—still as passionate as he was when he was young. He's had some secret transactions with the Government in the past (it was hard to find out thanks to cover ups, but there's definite proof), and I'm sure he's still idly using them to his benefit to gather information. If he's here, there's definitely something Kleptos related going on in those ruins. It's just the problem of getting in."

"It shouldn't be that hard," Aerie said. Cairo glance a hair over his shoulder as the words fell out of her mouth. He'd almost forgotten that she was there. "The ruins are sealed, yes, but they're sealed by the Government it seems. They have torches lit there. I can just barely make out an image, but it seems like those 'strange inscriptions' are Fire Mage seals. You shouldn't have any problem getting in using your authority to enter."

"Wow." Cairo laughed, but his tone was anything but humorous. It was stale as crumbling bread. "To think the day my rank would come in handy would finally come."

"Where does Dr. Savas live, anyway?" Cane asked. "All I see is desert, desert, and more desert."

"He lives about another three hours walk from here. I hope you brought plenty of water. It dries up fast in this heat."

.

The institute was a five and a half hour trek through the vast desert of Basia that covered over half of Cairo. It was five hours in when the trio stopped before a large Dragon Blood Tree whose trunk was split into two that both went in opposite directions. An old man was leaning against one of the split branches, his leg swinging to a beat inside his head while he laid peacefully down with his eyes closed. His hair was scruffy like it hadn't been combed in weeks, though it had a small sparkle in the light as if it was white and not grey. A large scar curved down from his eye to the middle of his ear