The Death of a Dream [hiatus]

Chapter 21

Forgotten City of Memories

"We're here," I panted as I sank to one knee, sweat rolling down my body.

Jhilza gulped hard as she staggered into the shadow of the closest building. She planted her back against the white stonewall and slid down, fanning herself as she went.

I took a few seconds to look at the tiny village before joining her in the shade. From my count, which was hindered by a salty bead of sweat that slid across my eye, there were about six or seven houses. There were at most two people milling about, their figures hidden to me by their long sand colored cloaks and hoods. One of them looked over at us before retreating inside the ragged house closest to them.

"I don't think they take to strangers very well," I noted out loud.

Suddenly, a man passed us by, his silhouette appearing out of thin air. I suppressed a squeak as I turned my head to Jhilza. Her eyes were just as wide as mine. I resumed watching three more figures materialize a few steps away from us, my jaw dropping with every passing second.

"These people obviously don't care about hiding their magic from outsiders," Jhilza stepped out of the shade, her eyes following them. "Go shimmy up to one of them and seduce him for answers," she suggested as her legs moved her to the leftmost side of the tiny village.

I rolled my eyes and shook my heads at her command.

It was strange that not only were they clearly using magic in front of us like it was nothing, but also the fact that they didn't seem to care about us. Were they not aware of our presence?

"No," I panted as I fanned myself with a hand.

I scoured the small area, trying to see which hooded figure I'd speak to first. Just as I was about to move for the petite figure to the rightmost of the village, my body was sent hurtling to the ground. My palms crashed against the rocky ground as I struggled to catch my own weight.

"That hurt," I cried out as I looked up to meet the eyes of my attacker.

He was a mountain of a man. I couldn't quite discern his features but his eyes paralyzed me. They were as black as night with a thin slit of white that was fixed on me.

"Excuse me—" I reached a hand out to the man.

He turned away from me and began walking to the shack at the far end of the village. It sat at the edge of the large rock that was jutting out from the nearby dune.

I picked myself up off the ground and followed him with heated cheeks. "Only a moment of your time, please!" I begged as his figure disappeared into the dark of his rundown house.

I exhaled in defeat before turning around to Jhilza. It seemed like she had failed as well. The villagers nearby would duck into their homes when she drew too close.