Chapter 4:
Sand Wave
The Army of Arthias, led by their king Jan, crosses a desert in order to make it to the next kingdom where they will sail to the Eastern Kingdom who has declared war on them.
"It's soo hot!!" yelled Riese.
"Is that the only thing you're gonna say?" asked Luna, "It's starting to annoy me."
"How can you survive in such a temperature with heavy armor, weapons and long clothing?!"
"I think we should have rented a horse or something." said Luca.
"Their rents were to pricey.." said Tina, "And what would we do with one horse and an entire elite army?"
"Maybe hold our stuff.."
Jan then stopped on top of a huge sand dune and looked far. "It seems the desert is ending over there." Jan said pointing north.
"You sure?" asked Aeneas.
"Yes, but I don't know how long it will take us."
"It will take about two days." said Yun-Seong, "I've been here before so I'd know."
"I just get out of here." said Elua.
"Same here." said Heal-Do, "A desert is no place for a lady."
"We are also soldiers." said Lupi, "Man or woman, we never become weak."
"She's in the warpath.." thought Aege.
A rumble then was heard.
"What was that?" said Ailian.
"Some sort of rumble.." said Abelia.
Jan and Yun-Seong knew what was up and head to a higher dune. "Guys! It's the sand creature! Head to higher ground!" yelled Yun-Seong.
Everyone then hurried to the high sand dune and waited. A small wave of sand then appeared and was heading to the group.
"What is that?!" yelled Riese.
"A sand wave." said Yun-Seong, "THose things are constantly around due the sand creature."
"May I ask why in higher ground?" asked Abelia, "It's a sand monster, so it will attack us wherever, right?"
"Wrong, it dislikes the surface and only comes out for a small while to catch food."
"Even during the night?" asked Viola.
"The night is less safe. The creature loves huge amounts of sand and dislikes areas with small amounts like these dunes."
"Thanks for the late info." Elua said, annoyed.
"It won't be a problem if we fight it." said Meiga.
"If you guys can find a way to get it out of the sand." said Luna.
"Uh..."
"It's best we stay here and wait for the waves to disperse. The creature is always on the move and leaves off in waves." said Yun-seong.
"Then I guess we'll have to set camp here" said Jan.
"WHAT?!" yelled most of the group.
"Orders are orders." said Abelia.
"Well, this is the first time Jan's order sucked." said Riese.
"Stop complaining." saind Aeneas, "It's better than being eaten."
The group settled around the night and waited for the sun to rise but some of the people already slept. Jan and Luna were sitting looking at the moon.
"Weak.." said Luna, talking about the army that slept.
"The heat has been affecting them." said Jan.
"You're always so positive."
"Looking posisitve is good way."
"It's also a fast way to annoy somepeople."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Annoying you."
"Don't be so direct."
"Sorry."
"At times, I wonder how Viola became your first love."
"Well, I guess it was because I helped her mant times and she was very shy but gained confidence."
"A real motivator, huh?"
"Hehe."
"I wonder..."
"Hm?"
"How do you feel about me?"
"Ah?"
"I mean of course you do know I like you."
"You are a great person and good to your friends but how do you feel when it comes to love?"
"I...um..."
"Or could it be...that you don't like me?"
"WHA-?!"
"You've only treated me as a friend. Is that what you see me as?"
"L-Luna? Are you all right?"
Luna started to get closer to Jan, inch by inch. Jan had no idea what to do.
"Answer me...Jan. Do you not like me?" Luna said in front of Jan's face, "Or is there someone you like?"
"I...I...!"
"JAN! LUNA!" yelled a female voice.
Both turned their heads to see it was Abelia.
"Oh, A-Abelia." said an uneasy Jan.
"Don't give me that! What are you doing?" said an irritated Abelia.
"Nothing." said Luna.
"Hmph."
Abelia then walked away.
"Too bad she came in." said Luna, "Now she gonna keep an eye on me."
"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't do that." said Jan.
"Do what?"
"Don't act so innocent."
"Oh, that? Well, the real reason is.."
Luna then got close to Jan's face and kissed his lips. Jan got shocked and froze as Luna smiled and walked off. Jan then layed flat on his back looking at the sky and let out a big sigh.
"Sol, Girardot, What do I do?"
"That's something you don't see." said a voice.
"Huh? Ack, A-Abelia.. I thought-"
"I saw what she did.."
"Geh!"
Abelia then sat down on the sand next to Jan looked down. "That pink mop head.." she mumbled, "What does she have that I don't?"
"She is different in style but the same in attitude."
"Wa?! You heard that?"
"I guess if my ears were close to your head."
Abelia punched Jan in the face.
"Ow."
"Don't intrude on other people's privacy."
"You didn't have to punch me."
"Sorry."
Abelia then looked at the moon.
"So many battles we have been through and it seems that they will never end." she said with a sigh.
"That's the nature of warriors." Jan said while rubbing his face, "We fight for a reason whether it is for power or for protecting."
"Then what do you fight for?"
"You first."
"Subtle.. I wanted to uphold the justice for the kingdom but that led me to turn against my friends."
"You mean Chronicle 18, Where you were one of Strife's last resorts but turned against him for the greater good."
"Huh?"
"I memorized every chapter in the Chronicles of the Sword book."
"You were always a strange one. Making risks, Oddball decisions and Putting your life on the line in every battle."
"But it was those same tatics that freed what is now Arthias."
"Jan...I was thinking."
"What?"
"If that sand creature got me, would try and save me?"
"Where'd that come from?"
"Answer it!"
"Well...Of course I'll save you!"
"Why is that?"
"Because I want to."
"Is that it?"
"I..."
"Yes?"
"I...'m...not sure."
"What do you mean?"
"I have this feeling of you as a precious thing in my life."
Abelia then blushed from what she heard.
"But then there is everyone else. They too are precious."
"So you feel that same to me as to them..?"
"Hmm.. Yeah, I guess so."
Abelia then grabbed Jan and planted his head into the sand. Abelia just huffed and walked away. Jan managed to get his head out.
"What was that about?" said Jan, getting snad out of his head.
"You don't understand the feelings of a woman, do you?" said Riese out of nowhere.
"Gack! Riese!"
"I. Saw. Every-thing."
"Uh..oh."
"At least Viola isn't here. She's sleeping."
"Man, the female mind is complicated."
"It's not the mind, Jan."
"It's not?"
"It's the heart."
"The heart..?"
"You have one too, don't ya?"
"Well, yeah."
"Girls use their heart when they are into someone."
"You sound as if you have an interest."
"No I don't... I'm talking from my own point of view."
"How's that gonna help?"
"Hmmm... Abelia and Luna were right, you're hopeless."
Riese then walked off and Jan looked at the moon and then at the endless desert.
The sun raised the next day and everyone was off. The continued walk of the desert took half of the day. All were becoming weary from the scorching heat that was upon them. Suddenly, Jan saw something up ahead.
"Hey, is that what I think it is?" said Jan, looking far into the desert.
"What? What is it?" said Aeneas.
Everyone couldn't be sure but they could see a city at the edge of the desert.
"Is that a city?" asked Elua.
"It could be a mirage." said Abelia.
"No, that's the city." said Yun-Seong, "That's the one that will lead us to the Eastern Kingdom."
"All right!" said Riese, and then ran off.
"Hey! Wait!"
But then they heard a rumble and saw the sand waves. Riese had no idea that she was in for.
"RIESE! GET BACK HERE!!" yelled Jan.
But before Riese could hear the yell. The sand creature came out and jumped towards her. The creature was like a giant millipede and it's length was big as eight pirate ships. Riese couldn't move and she couldn't stop the sand creature from coming at her.
All of a sudden, a giant stream of fire hit the head of the sand creature and made it fall on it's back. As it was trying to squirm back to it's feet everyone hurried out of the desert. Aeneas and Meiga got the frozen Riese.
"Riese, are you okay?" asked Aeneas.
"Ma... ma... Big...bug..."
"Riese?"
"She's suffering a shock of fear." said Meiga, "It looks like it can take a while before she recovers."
Aeneas and Meiga carried Riese and tried to ran away with the group as fast as they can.
Jan then sees the city getting closer.
"C'mon! We're almost there!" he said.
But before they can get closer, they heard a scream. It sounded like it was from Abelia.
Jan turned around to find Abelia's cape caught in one of the sand creature's antennas.
"HELP!!" she screamed.
Jan quickly hurried back to the sand creature and help Abelia. Jan got his sword out and sliced away at the antenna that grabbed the cape. Unfortunately, the creature started to dig with it's back and dragged Abelia down with it. Abelia's legs were buried in the sand and her whole body was sinking down. Jan grabbed Abelia's hand and tried to set her free but abelia started to sink even faster.
"Jan...Please.. help.." Abelia said with tears coming out.
Jan held on and tried to think of something but then a white glow surrounded Abelia and Jan. They turned around to find Viola casting a spell.
"Jan, cut her cape!" she said, "Hurry! I can't hold this spell much longer!"
Jan then cut Abelia's cape and pulled her up. All three saw the antenna drag down Abelia's torn cape into the sand.
"Whew... that was close." said Jan, "Thanks, Viola."
"Ah...n-no problem." said Viola.
"Jan..." said Abelia.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you.."
"Don't mention it."
"Jan! Abeila! Are you all right?!" yelled Ailian.
"We're fine. Thanks to Viola." said Jan.
"Man, we would have lost our best leader." said Tina.
"Huh? But what about me?" said Jan.
"You're the king.. you don't need compliments."
"Uh..."
"Well, at least we won't see that thing ever again." said Kanon.
"Then what's that?" said Luca, pointing at something.
In the far part of the desert sand waves were coming right towards them. Everyonw saw and freaked out.
"EVERYBODY RUN!!" yelled Yun-Seong.
Everyone ran the fastest they can from the oncoming sand waves.
As they almost reached the city the sand waves got them and threw them high over the city. All then fell down and scattered all over the city. Jan found himself rashed on barrels of wine.
"Owwwww..." said Jan, "Good thing I'm wearing armor this would have killed me."
"Excuse me sir?"
"Huh?"
"Exactly who are you?"
"I'm..."
"Because you destroyed all my wine barrels!!"
"Ah sorry!"
"It's not like you can say sorry and my wine barrels can come back."
"I'll pay for it."
"How?"
"Here."
"Wh-what?! Th-this is alot of gold! Who are you?"
"Jan, Ruler of the Arthias Kingdom."
"Y-You?!"
"Yes."
"P-pardon me, sir."
"It's all right."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Waka Oaka."
"Waka Oaka?"
"Yes, but you can call me Waka. I am owner of a successful hotel and I also run the harbor."
"The harbor?"
"Yes, why?"
"I need a ship."
"For what?"
"It's a long story and - wait."
"What is it?"
"Where is everyone else?"
"You mean you were with other people?"
"Yes."
"Then allow me to help you."
"Thank you."
Jan and Waka then went to search the city for the scattered comrades.
Sorry, it took me a long while to upload a chapter but there was like a huge amount of work to be done. I'll probably start the next chapter soon.
