The sun had barely risen when Kael stepped through the crumbling gates of Djurah. His heart was pounding, the map Zara had given him clenched tightly in his hand. The city, once the beating heart of the desert empire, now lay behind him, its silhouette fading as he walked deeper into the barren wastes. The wind swept across the dunes, carrying with it the scent of dry earth and the faintest trace of danger.
Kael adjusted the strap of his water flask, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of the desert before him. He had no illusions about the journey ahead. The desert was a merciless place, one that had swallowed entire caravans and countless souls. But his resolve was unyielding. The prince had to be stopped. The Eye of Seraph was the key to everything, and Kael was determined to find it—no matter the cost.
As he moved, the city's sounds faded into the distance, replaced by the haunting silence of the desert. His footsteps crunched against the sand, the only sound in the vast emptiness. Kael felt the weight of the map in his hand, the delicate parchment both a guide and a curse. It was Zara's map, but it was incomplete, marked with cryptic symbols and locations that meant little to him. He had to trust his instincts now, and the words of Zara echoed in his mind: The desert will swallow you whole.
The wind began to pick up, and the sand started to swirl around him, carrying stinging grains that bit at his skin. The heat was unbearable, and the sky above seemed to stretch endlessly, an unbroken canvas of blue. Kael wiped the sweat from his brow and continued on, his mind focusing on the path ahead. He could see the first marker from Zara's map—a lone, weathered stone jutting from the sand, its surface carved with an ancient symbol. The clue was here, somewhere beneath the dunes.
Hours passed, each one dragging as the desert tested his endurance. The sun climbed higher in the sky, scorching everything in its path. Kael's water was running low, and he could feel the desert's oppressive grip tightening around him. Yet, he pressed on. There was no other choice.
The marker grew closer, and Kael slowed his pace, his eyes scanning the area. There was no sign of life, no hint that anyone had been here for centuries. The stone loomed before him, standing stark against the endless sea of sand. He approached it cautiously, his fingers brushing against the ancient carvings.
The symbol was unmistakable: the Eye of Seraph.
Kael's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The first piece of the puzzle.
He knelt before the stone, his hand tracing the lines of the symbol. The desert heat seemed to intensify, the air shimmering around him. He could feel the presence of something ancient, something powerful, just beneath the surface. A sudden gust of wind swept through the area, and Kael looked up sharply, his senses on high alert.
Something was wrong.
Before he could react, a figure emerged from the shadows of the dunes. It was a man, tall and cloaked in flowing desert robes. His face was obscured by a scarf, but Kael could see the glint of a blade at his side. The man moved with the grace of a predator, his every step calculated and deliberate.
Kael's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but the stranger raised a hand, a silent gesture that seemed to convey both threat and warning.
"I knew you would come," the man's voice was low, rough, and edged with a cold authority. "But you are not the only one seeking the Eye."
Kael narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening. "Who are you?"
The man's lips twisted into a smile. "I am known as Rafiq. And I am the last of the Guardians."
"The Guardians?" Kael echoed, his confusion evident. He had heard no mention of such an order in the tales of the desert, nor did he understand why this man seemed so familiar with the Eye of Seraph.
"The Guardians are the keepers of the secrets that lie within these sands," Rafiq explained, stepping closer, his boots crunching against the sand. "We have protected the Eye for centuries. And now, you come to take it? To use it for your petty war?"
Kael's brow furrowed. "I'm not here for power. I'm here to stop the prince."
Rafiq studied him for a moment, his eyes unreadable beneath the cloth of his scarf. "The prince is not the only one who will seek the Eye, Kael. There are others—far darker forces that would use its power to reshape this world."
Kael's frustration mounted. "I don't have time for riddles. I need to find the prince before he plunges Djurah into chaos."
Rafiq's expression softened, just slightly. "Then you must first understand what you are dealing with. The Eye is no simple artifact. It is a weapon—one of unimaginable power. And it is not meant for mortal hands."
Kael's hand clenched around the sword hilt. "I will take my chances."
Rafiq regarded him silently for a moment, then slowly, deliberately, reached into his robes. He withdrew an ancient scroll, its edges frayed and weathered by time. "Then take this," he said, offering it to Kael. "But know this—the path you walk will lead you into the heart of darkness. The prince's secrets are but a shadow of what lies beneath. If you seek to find him, you will have to face what has been buried for centuries."
Kael hesitated for only a moment before taking the scroll. He unrolled it cautiously, revealing intricate markings that seemed to pulse with energy. The symbols were unfamiliar, but they stirred something deep within him. He could feel the power emanating from the scroll, a connection to the very essence of the desert itself.
"You are not the first to come this way," Rafiq continued. "Many before you have tried, and they failed. The desert does not yield its secrets easily."
"I'm not here to fail," Kael muttered, his eyes still locked on the scroll. "I'll find what I need."
Rafiq's voice softened. "Then be prepared, Kael. The desert is a place of trials, and its test is not one you can easily overcome. Trust no one. Not even me."
With that, the man turned and disappeared into the dunes, his form swallowed by the vast desert as if he were never there at all. Kael stood alone once more, the scroll heavy in his hands. The wind howled around him, carrying whispers of forgotten secrets.
He knew this journey would not be easy. The path ahead would be fraught with peril. But Kael had made his decision. He would stop the prince. And if the desert stood in his way, he would tear it apart.