บท 11: Shadows in the Sand

The desert had returned to its usual stillness, but an unsettling feeling lingered in the air. As Alex, Lily, and Jack pressed on through the sands, the weight of the recent battle hung over them. The storm might have passed, but the dark magic they had encountered was a reminder that their journey was becoming more dangerous with each step.For hours, they walked in relative silence, the only sounds being the shifting sands beneath their feet and the occasional gust of wind. The horizon stretched out endlessly, and with no immediate threats, their minds began to wander.Lily broke the silence first. "That obelisk… It wasn't just protecting this desert, was it? It felt like it was part of something bigger."Alex nodded, his thoughts still on the pulsating magic that had emanated from the stone. "The obelisk was like a beacon. Whoever—or whatever—built it wanted to control something in this desert, maybe even beyond it. And the relics… they're connected to all of this."Jack grunted, kicking a stone out of his path. "We've already got one relic, and it's powerful enough to bring shadow monsters down on us. Imagine what happens when we get the next one.""We don't have a choice," Alex said, determination in his voice. "Whatever this ancient civilization was, they sealed their magic away for a reason. We need to figure out why. If these relics fall into the wrong hands, they could bring back a magic that was meant to stay buried."Lily glanced at Alex. "You're sure we're the right people for this?"Alex met her gaze. "We have to be. No one else knows what we've uncovered, and if anyone else is after the relics, we need to stay one step ahead."As they continued, the landscape began to change. The dunes became less steep, and patches of rough, rocky terrain replaced the endless stretches of sand. In the distance, jagged cliffs rose from the desert floor, their dark stone standing in stark contrast to the pale sands."There's our next landmark," Jack said, pointing to the cliffs. "The coast should be beyond that."Lily shielded her eyes from the sun, peering ahead. "The map Alex found in the temple pointed us this way. The next relic is supposed to be hidden in the ruins of an ancient coastal city."Alex unrolled the map, studying the markings. "If we're lucky, the city hasn't been completely swallowed by the sea."Jack snorted. "When have we ever been lucky?"The trio made their way toward the cliffs, the shadows growing longer as the sun began its descent. By the time they reached the base of the cliffs, the air had grown cooler, and the faint sound of waves crashing against rocks echoed from beyond."There's a path up ahead," Lily said, motioning to a narrow, winding trail carved into the cliffs. "It looks like it'll take us around the cliffs and down to the coast."They began the climb, the trail proving treacherous in places, with loose stones crumbling underfoot and sheer drops to either side. But after what felt like hours, they finally reached the top and looked out over the other side.Below them, nestled between the cliffs and the vast ocean, lay the ruins of an ancient city. Time had not been kind to it—the stone buildings were weathered and crumbling, many of them half-buried in sand or eroded by the relentless waves. But even from a distance, they could see the remnants of grand architecture, columns rising toward the sky, and what appeared to be a large central plaza."There it is," Alex breathed. "The Lost City of Thalassar."Jack surveyed the ruins. "Looks like we're not the only ones who thought this place was a good idea. Look."Lily followed his gaze and spotted something that made her stomach twist—campfires. Multiple campfires dotted the edges of the ruins, the faint flicker of firelight visible even from their elevated position."We've got company," Lily muttered, her eyes narrowing. "And they're already inside."Alex's face darkened. "We can't let them get to the relic before us.""We don't even know who they are," Jack said, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "For all we know, they could be scavengers."Lily shook her head. "Scavengers wouldn't camp out in a place like this. Whoever they are, they know what they're looking for."Alex glanced at the map again, his fingers tracing the route that would take them down into the city. "We'll need to move carefully. If they're after the relic, we can't afford a direct fight. We need to find it before they do."The three of them descended the cliffs, keeping low as they approached the outskirts of the city. As they got closer, they could make out more details of the campfires—and the people around them."They're armed," Lily whispered, her sharp eyes picking out figures moving between the tents. "Looks like mercenaries. Maybe a dozen, maybe more."Jack frowned. "Someone hired them. Mercenaries don't come out this far for free."Alex crouched behind a crumbling wall, scanning the area. "Whoever hired them knows about the relic. We need to move fast."The ruins stretched out before them, a labyrinth of broken stone and collapsed buildings. The mercenaries were scattered throughout, but their presence wasn't overwhelming—yet. If the trio was careful, they could slip through unnoticed."We head for the center of the city," Alex whispered. "That's where the map says the relic is hidden. There's an old temple there."Lily nodded, her hand resting on her daggers. "I'll scout ahead. If I find a way through, I'll signal you."Before either Alex or Jack could respond, Lily had already vanished into the shadows, moving with the silent grace of a predator. The two of them waited in the growing darkness, their eyes on the campfires.After a few tense minutes, Lily reappeared, gesturing for them to follow. She led them through a series of narrow alleyways and collapsed buildings, always keeping them just out of sight of the mercenaries. Finally, they reached the center of the city—a vast plaza with a crumbling temple at its heart."That's it," Alex said, pointing to the temple. "The relic should be inside."But as they approached, a voice rang out from the shadows."You're too late."The trio froze. From the entrance of the temple, a figure stepped forward, cloaked in dark robes. Behind him, more mercenaries appeared, weapons drawn."I've been expecting you," the figure said, his voice smooth and confident. "And now that you've come all this way, you can hand over the relic."Alex narrowed his eyes, gripping his staff tightly. "Who are you?"The man smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "My name isn't important. What matters is that you've led me right to what I need. And for that, I thank you."Jack stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "You're not getting anything from us."The man's smile widened. "We'll see about that."