Chapter 36

The wind was chilly enough to empty one's soul. Overall, the atmosphere was filled with a thick smoke that was hard to breathe in and a penetrable, insupportable smell that seemed to invade the lungs in a painful manner. The palm trees that once populated the shores of the Empire were no more alive, replaced by what it looked like a bunch of logs with some straws on top. Miserable, rascal creatures populated the shores, hiding behind the palm trees when they felt looked at and drinking the salted sea water, getting sick after their own thirstiness crisis and chewing on the remains of the giant scorpion shells, in a calm despair.

Entirely, the sight was so depressing it sent shivers down the spines of the watchers. Rhen was sure she felt it. At least when she saw that once-hyena running away on its skinny legs when the group approached. That looked beyond depressing.

What lied beyond the mass of gray soil was merely a hypothesis. No one actually believed that the women of Veldt, who were the successors of a large group of Amazonians that once inhabited the Demon Caves beneath the Southern desert, were thrown out of their underground refuge by some demonic force that lived and grown in there, free and fusystatic, no shape and all, and managed to release the worst nightmares the human kind can think of. As silly and retarded as it sounded, that was what all of the history books in the Veldt History museum were quoting.

Unfortunately, they were true. But humans always seemed to cling to their own beliefs, despite the guidance of the divinities and seemingly, having that Sedonian attitude -maybe even French-ish accent- when they say smugly "Eey hav tzu see eet tzu believah eet!". That hurt the brain of any living creature that possessed one.

"If something happens, go to Dreamland."

Lars remembered so many times how Marine told him that. What did not follow her order-advice was "and take whoever you can with you, everyone, if possible." but their silent conversation was interrupted by the sobbing of Lillian that was noticed by Rhen and came over. So many times he wished to go to the Dreamland, but his ration kept him in place when thinking of the possibility that things might work out. Although he mostly knew he was fooling himself for the sake of the others and mostly Rhen.

"We're out of water." Rhen said, placing the water bottle back in the bag.

"Not that it's unimaginably hot and we get dehydrated like raisins." Lars added, matter-of-factly not actually seeing the importance of the situation.

A crowd of skinny hyenas was following them for a time now. The dirty animals were walking shyly a few dozens meters behind them at the group's pace, an unusually slow speed for animals their rank, hoping that they would drop anything, not caring if it was edible or not. Galahad turned around every once in a while, making sure the animals were not approaching at a dangerous distance. Although that turning around of his was pointless, as the hyenas were backing off ten meters every time he spun around and eyed them. He eventually stopped doing it, at Te'ijal's demand.

A slight shimmer caught Rhen's eye. When she looked over her shoulder, the only thing visible was a pile of moving sand that soon disappeared. Whatever that sparkling something was, it must have been at least the size of a human being, if not larger, and gave the feeling that it was spying on them. A very uneasy feeling, that enlarged the void inside Rhen's stomach.

"This,..." Lars murmured, looking lost at the modest cave entrance that led to darkness. "I will not enter." was the unsaid continuation. He would have looked like a dope saying that then and there. "Sinking right at the shore", like some would say, looking at his lack of courage.

They've beaten up two daevas, why should this be a problem? That was something Te'ijal would say.

"Because there are five daevas left that we'll have to face at the same time alongside with their leader. Sounds fun, right, Galahad?" Rhen asked, sarcastically, looking at the paladin that only rolled his eyes.

"I don't care about fun as long as it's for honor."

"There is no honor in getting killed." Lars sniffed, glaring at the muddy armor beside him.

"Please, northerners." Elini said, tiredly. "I have three husbands waiting for me in Veldt and one other man waiting for me in a town infested by plague. Let us finish this already!" She looked at the cave entrance and then at the group.

Could Rhen hear what everyone else was thinking? Noh, she must be hallucinating.

Are we going in already? Of course we are going; we are going straight to committing suicide. Shut up, you foolish boy, what we are doing is honorable. ARE WE GOING IN ALREADY?

"Fine!" Rhen almost shouted, looking at Elini in an annoyed manner, rolling her eyes at her brand new hallucinating skill before covering her forehead. Forced under the pressure of the other's demands that they stay behind one more night because of her bad psychological mood, she snapped again.

In that short second of lack of brain, she really considered stealing Lars' Cloak of Death -which she had no idea how to get since she had it sewed on the inside of his regular cloak at his demand- and running away in the Wildwoods or the Ashwood forest or even Thornkeep, just far away from that place and live forever, assured that the magical cloak could keep you alive forever.

It would be no fun to live on and see the others wither away and remain alone, without any successors.

Wonder how she would look at 362 years old. She decided that after her 362th birthday, she would take the cloak off and let herself drop dead.

She was becoming stupider by the minute.

Is this really happening to us? We came all the way here, human, you do not think of giving up right now, do you? No, but maybe you should wait. Shut up, everybody, we are going inside NOW! Why is this cave so empty? It is not, there's an imp. It was once filled with these creatures, only one is worrysome, northerners. Where are we going? Straight ahead, there is the Stronghold temple. No way. There is the entrance. I can't look at it, Lars. Come on, this is it!

This is it, Rhen. This is it!

"What? The end?" She sobbed, looking at Lars who only sighed and kicked one other imp with his foot.

Could he read minds, too?

Ouch.

Another four imps surrounded the group. Galahad kicked them all, leading the way to the furthermost temple. It seemed miles away. Nautical miles, even. Almost as the gods and druids didn't want them to enter it. A divine sign, that is. Rhen was sure about it at first, but reconsidered her statement when remembering that all the druids were just those few miles away.

They were going to save the world.

They were going to be heroes and be famous and she will marry some noble or some prince that will be only after the money she will receive for her brave deed. Maybe even Lars, if he asks her.

Yes.

They were going to save the world.

But what if they didn't?

"Can I stay behind?" Elini asked, looking at the grand gate.

"No." Te'ijal responded.

"Okay."

…...

This is mostly psychological.

Wooties.

Two.

We've got only two chappies left. Wooties again.

I love the story. I have so many ideas yaaaay

Alright. I will go now and do my homework, because I dunno how, but I always leave homework behind wirting stoeies if I have inspiration right in that moment. (I can give up even if I am in a middle of the shower and come over and write the darn chapter!)

Cheers~