Stumbling along the sand dune, the winds whip up the sand all around me, scratching me with their small but mighty grains. The searing sun beats down upon my unprotected head as I trudge through the desolate wasteland. Inside my head, a small voice begs, "Just keep going, just . . . just –" Oomph!

I sink down to the sand, embracing me in its warm dunes. Like a withered tree, I had no life, no urge to keep fighting.

A warm sensation makes it way down my fingers. As I glance down, I notice that my once manacled hands begun to bleed after the mysterious cloaked figure hewn them apart with a shining sword.

The past days had been a blur of injustice, discord, and violence. With the new king in charge, Athachan was in turmoil. Now, I was on the run after organizing the rebel group to overthrow the cruel ruler.

Just as the sun hid behind a cloud, my eyes focus and pinpoint on a hazy outline. Trees . . . trees! That means water! The very thought - of the thing I need most was only a few yards away from me - invigorated me to get up and head towards the oasis.

A few hours later. I am still trudging. The sun is now casting a wide display of oranges, purples, and red . . . like the blood of those the forbidding dictator of Athachan murdered for lending help to the poor. No, stop, no, I tell myself. I can't relive such dark times.

"Coward", goes the little voice in my head.

I don't contradict it. I am indeed a coward, the worst of them. To run away from those who needed me most, absolute coward. I gave up on my citizens, of the people I once had so proudly invited to all the elegant parties I held at the old castle. Now, the once pristine castle is now in ruins with a new pure obsidian one built on top and my people are now dead or in the shadows, hiding.

I will not give up, like my old self, I will start with small steps – accomplishing small tasks before deeming myself worthy of accomplishing the ones I am called upon to do.

The oasis is only a few feet away now. I will not . . . give up . . .not . . . not . . .I reach out a hand to touch the nearest tree. I fall forward instead. Nothing. Nothing but sand.

The realization hits me, hard. My "oasis" was merely a haze, a trick of the heat. Oh, how relieving it would have been to at last quench my aching thirst. However, like how my honor was thrown from me when King Challor took over and stripped me of my duty, the safe and reliving haven has been yanked from what I thought was reality.

All I could think was "What now?". Darkness sweeps over me.