Chapter 3 The Desert
"Rejoice, Nicholas Lozano, your wish will finally come true." I replayed those words over and over again in my head, trying to grasp the magnitude of the situation that I got myself into. Heck, I'm not sure what wish was even granted. During my tenure in the void, I made several wishes such as "I wish for some entertainment" or "I wished I had a brisket sandwich". Hmm, maybe the wish that was granted was the one I made during my free fall into the abyss "I wish I would stop falling." That wish, in particular, would explain why I stopped falling though it does not explain how I was deaged to my preteen self nor how I was resurrected.
Well, I will have to put that train of thought on hold as it is time to go. Traveling at night will allow me to travel without the risk of heat stroke and sunburns. Sweating should decrease which allows me to conserve whatever fluids I have left. Though the last problems I currently have to deal with is my lack water, food, and lack of knowledge of my current location relative to the world. With the landscape as barren as it is the chances of me finding water and food are slim to none. Overall I give myself two days to survive due to the climate as well as the fact that I have to walk everywhere which increases fluid loss.
In regards to my current location, the simple answer is I don't know. The environment is a sandy desert with little to no vegetations which that doesn't really help me as I could be in the Great Sandy Desert of Australia, the Arabian Desert or god forbid the fucking Sahara Desert. So without further ado, I'll head east as that seems to be as good of a plan I can come up with, but let's think of the bright side I get to enjoy a relaxing stroll and plus my mom always told me to go outside more often.
6 hours later...
You know it's almost sunrise , and you think there would be more interesting in this desert than fucking sand. They said go out enjoy nature, it would be good for you health they said, whatever, hours into this journey I already hate it. There is sand on my sandals, sand in the air, sand over the dune, just sand everywhere. No wonder Anakin Skywalker hated sand, it's coarse, rough and really does gets everywhere.
Just breath in and breath out, breath in and out, breath in and out. Okay, I think I calmed down a bit. I'm just going to keep walking till I get too tired and rest or till I hit some form of civilization. As soon as I am out here I can long a long relaxing shower. Walking up the nearby dune, I looked around from my vantage point for any sign of civilization, only too greeted by the sight of more sandy dunes and the random dead bush here and there. Sigh the only way I'll get anywhere is to just keep walking, so with renewed vigor, I continued to head east in search of salvation.
14 hours later…
I think overestimated my ability to survive. I originally factored in that I would be able to find some form of shelter from the blazing heat and that my preteen body could as well as my adult body, but it seems like assumptions about my new body were wrong as we as fact there is nothing else besides sand in this desert and the occasional dead brush. Which forced me to continue traveling even though my knees buckling and dehydration began to take effect on my body…..the cramps are beginning to make moving harder and everything is getting spotty, but I just need to keep moving….every step I take is a step towards to my survival. If I stop now I will die of dehydration eventually.
Climbing the small dune, I collapsed on myself I tried to pick myself but to no avail. I looked up and I noticed that the sun was beginning to set again.
I finally realized that my body won't respond to my mental commands. I just need some rest. That's what I kept repeating to myself. To the trick myself into believing that I will wake up and I will continue my journey, but deep in the back of my head I knew that my chances of survival are slim and that this where I could die a second time. Laying there, I slowly fell asleep as the pain that has been plaguing slowly began to numb.
POV switch Shamash
A little over a day ago, I sensed an anomaly appear in the middle of the Arabian desert. Normally when a magical entity enters our territory we usually just observe them or if they were being particularly troublesome we usually just vaporize them. Which seems perfectly reasonable in my opinion, I mean the only reason anyone comes the our part of the fertile crescent anymore is steal resources, look at our ruins or try finding Gilgamesh's famous Gate of Babylon which everyone should know by know that he took most of his treasures with him to the grave as the keys to Gates of Babylon were connected to his soul which meant even if you could attain one of the keys you did not have the prerequisite to use and plus the physical storehouse that holds his treasures has been hidden so well by him that even I the god of the sun, who can see all that the sun touches could not find it.
In any case when I when first started monitoring him I expected him to be a mage of some kind, but instead, it turned out to be a little boy. At this point, I would usually get back to little pet project I am currently working, but what kept me interested the boy was the faint magical aura he gave off. If you focused closely on aura you can sense a fairly large reservoir of magical energy locked up within him. That right there would make him a perfect candidate for an apprenticeship in the mystic arts or as a bishop in a devil's peerage.
After watching him for a for about a day until he collapsed in the sand. I can say was mildly impressed at his endurance and willpower to survive the blazing heat of the desert, which is currently around 50 degrees Celsius, without magic or supplies. But willpower alone will not be enough at the rate thing where progressing he is very likely to not last the night.
Hmm, it would be a shame if he were left to die, besides he was somewhat interesting and I believe I could extract a few favors from him, but either way intervening could be dangerous for the kid as it might draw unwanted attention plus my fellow Sumerian gods might take interest in the boy. Some of them might just want to kill him for trespassing other might force him to become a servant in which case neither outcome is unacceptable.
So how do I not give away my location as soon as intervene? Hmmm, I could ...no that will not about there is no way I could truly conceal 100% of my presence. Hmmm, so the best way for him to survive is if he becomes strong enough to potentially fight off minor demons. I think the best way to achieve this is to jumpstart his magic and give him some supplies to survive the Desert.
With all the details sorted out, I believe I should get going before the brat dies of organ failure.
In a brilliant flash of light, the entire observatory was illuminated in a golden light. As the light began to fade away any traces of the previous occupant of the observatory began to disappear as well.
In the middle of the night, a small flicker of light signaled the entrance of the sun god. Well, I hope he still alive as I really don't want to come out here for nothing.
Shamah began to approach the dune where the boy was currently slumbering.
Hmm well, he could be in worse shape. The kid was a bit pale, his breathing is beginning to slow and running a 39-degree Celsius fever. Well, time to get to work. First thing first is to stabilize him and get him back on his feet which should be the easiest part of this operation as besides being a sun god I'm also a god of salvation, justice, divination, and law.
Using my healing spell on the kid did the trick as he began to gain some color, his breathing has stabilized and his fever has subsided. Now for the tricky part. Unlocking the kid's magic, personally I'm not that well versed in the archaic arts sure I can do healing magic and divinations quite well ,but thing is, I never really tried to expand my repertoire beyond that plus I'm personally more of a chariot type of guy who rather fights up close and personal or using hit and run tactics, but hey i'm already here and I don't really want someone like Ishtar to fine me out here, so I should better hurry up before the other notice I'm not there anymore.
Well, let's see what I can do. I put hand my on his chest and began to focus on the source of his magical signature to see what is stopping from using magic. Hmm after a few minutes I conclude a few things from my observation one this kid has a magic core with can be described as a pseudo nervous system that is connected to said core. The cause of this blockade best is described as a black thick energy that has strange properties such as it feels divine yet not at the same time.
Either way in order for the boy to use magic those pathways would have to be cleared. Hmmm now, how do I unclog those pathways? Well I could use raw power to overcome it, but that comes with the risk of being discovered by my acquaintances and that I could potentially fry his insides.
Well as the kids say these days time to 'yolo' it. I slowly inserted my energy into his system to see if it would be enough, but it failed to even put a dent in it. Well time to up energy output, I slowly but steadily increased the amount of energy being used against the clog till it got point where the core was beginning to strain.
Well, this is not working, that tainted energy will not move an inch. Well, time for plan B, a wise man once sense if "brute force is not working, then your not using enough of it", so I will up the energy output and will try to heal as much of damage this could possibly cause at the same time.
The core was beginning to swell up like an overinflated balloon ready to pop which was beginning to worry me as my healing spells can only keep them from exploding for so long. Just as the situation looked hopeless for the kid, the dark energy began to give way allowing the excess mana in the core to spread out through the hole body.
Well, that was the most tiring thing I ever did in my 4-millennium life. The only thing I ever was done that was more tiring being part of the cleanup crew during the Enkidu fiasco.
Taking a quick glance at the kid, the kid seemed to be about as strong as the average pawn in Devil's evil piece system, but his potential seemed to be much higher than that. Now to address three things in order to call this little field trip a success. First I got write a note for the kid and place with his supplies I'll be giving him. The second thing sneaking back in the palace without being caught which should be easy as the other gods should be feasting right now. Thirdly to come up with a very good excuse just in case I get caught that is able to explain why I helped the kid out, potentially gave him a low amount of divinity that is equivalent of being a great-grandson of a god, and why I broke the inference rule made after the Enkidu debacle.
Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I can talk way out anything, so I got this plus it's not like Anu will give a harsh punishment or anything as he's been far too lax these days. Now for the kid's supplies, I quickly teleported some supplies to help the kid out . The last thing do while here, I got a piece of notebook paper scribbled together my message for the kid that outlined my intentions, who I am, and few tips on how to get out of the Desert without getting killed by the environment or the edimmu who lurk in certain areas of the Desert.
After leaving the note with the kid, I was able to get to my room without being spotted. Sighing in relief I was about to get some rest when I heard a knock at the from my comfy bed I went to open the door to what this person wants right now I mean It already past midnight.
Opening the door I was surprised at who I saw, "Anu what are you doing here"
"Well, Shamash I noticed you were not at dinner, so what were you doing while we were eating,"Anu asked sternly.
I quickly replied "Well I was at Observatory, monitoring the land for any signs of intruders"
Anu continued to look at me with cold eyes and quietly whispered: " I would believe you if I did not know you are lying to me Shamash."
Ouhh shit he knows, Sweat began to form as I tried to come up with a valid excuse. "Well, I-"
"Save your excuses Shamash" walking out of the room Anu added on "we will continue this talk later this week, and it better be the truth or I will send you to work in the underworld for the next 10 millennia."
After few minutes of just standing in silence, I quickly got my wits together and slowly shut the door.I then paced around the room trying to come up with a solution for my predicament. Well, whatever I'm going to say to Anu better be convincing or I and the kid are toast.
Author's notes
Well, I got some advice from a beta on how to structure it. Besides that, i'm continually editing the previous chapters such as the structure and grammar.
Any way to clear up a few thing the black energy that helped Nick survive his was energy from the grail that was there to ensure he survived his decent but since Angra Mainyu had his hand in the wish he was able to add a negative sign effects that affected Nick's Magic, Endurance, and overall parameters.
For those wondering Anu is the king of Sumerian/Mesopotamian gods
The Story so far takes place 4 years before canon of DxD begins, so it will be awhile before he heads out to Kouh.
