Jayce was standing on the busy docks of Valonia, ready to leave, when Sylas came to him with a report. "We have a breakthrough," Sylas said. "We found out something about the cult acolyte. She is said to have trained in a temple in the Kingdom of Sand." Jayce felt a spark of determination in his spirit and decided to act right away.
Sylas came to Jayce again, this time with a nervous request. "Can I come with you?" he asked. "I can help you with planning, logistics, and interrogation. I want to get out of this city." Jayce agreed to let him join his team and saw a flash of joy in Sylas' eyes. "Thank you," Sylas said. "I won't let you down."
They started their journey by sailing across the Abyssinian strait on their Corvette. They went under a massive statue of a warrior that stretched over the water. Jayce was curious and peeked under the warrior's skirt, but he only saw blackness. Sylas looked at him with disappointment and shook his head.
They got to the port town of Tafilat and left their boat there. They chose to ride on sand boats that were driven by the sand people, who were short men wearing loose brown clothes that hid them completely.
The sand boats were small wooden hydrofoils with fins that lifted the hull over the sand once they picked up speed. The sand people used magic and a wind sail to move. They had room for four passengers each but Sylas opted for three people per boat including Jayce and himself and two boats.
Reciting an ancient Arabic chant, the sand people invoked the sand people's assistance. "Carry me with your tender breeze, lift me gently with ease," they intoned.
The sand people stopped at a point where they could barely see the shore. They would not go any further. Sylas tried to bribe them with three times their pay, but they rejected it and panicked. Sylas told Jayce what they were saying. They were afraid of sand demons that lived beyond this point. "We have no other choices," Sylas said. "Should we go back?"
Jayce grinned and asked to take one of the sand boats with Sylas in it. He had learned the chant that made the wind sail work by watching them for an hour. He said the chant and they took off on their sand boats, leaving the sand people behind in shock and anger.
Sylas looked at Jayce with new admiration and respect as they glided over the sand. But then, something stirred under them. Two huge shapes came out, following them from both sides. Fear showed on Sylas' face, unlike his earlier confidence.
Jayce said another chant he learned from Ekko that made his body lighter, this time making the sand boat very light. The sand boat sped up and almost flew like a bird, escaping the sand demons. Sylas, his fear turning into surprise, admired Jayce even more.
They continued their journey through the harsh desert.
Jayce and Sylas saw a towering structure on the horizon. It had five spires that reminded Jayce of the tomb of Avogadro and the Castle Kassidan. They had to reach it soon, because a huge sandstorm was coming. They stopped the sand boat near the temple and prepared to run inside. But Sylas stopped him and said, "Wait, we can't leave the sand boat here. The sandstorm will blow it away and we'll be stuck here." Jayce turned back and said the wrong version of Ekko's chant that made him heavier instead of lighter. The sand boat sank a bit into the sand with its extra weight.
Jayce and Sylas cautiously stepped into the serene temple, their eyes adjusting to the dimly lit interior. They heard a voice say, "Welcome, travelers. You have come to the right place." There, seated in a perfect lotus position, they found a peaceful monk, radiating tranquility amidst the hallowed silence. He opened his eyes and smiled at them. "Do not be afraid. I am here to help you." Without resistance, he got up and approached them, offering sustenance in the form of food and water. "Please, take these. You must be hungry and thirsty after your long journey."
Sylas, declining the monk's hospitality, cut straight to the point. "We seek information about the cult's female acolyte," he asserted, his voice filled with determination. At the mention of a female acolyte, the monk's countenance shifted, his features contorting with an unforeseen intensity. From within the folds of his robe, he drew a gleaming blade, a disconcerting smile curling upon his lips.
A declaration escaped his lips, laden with conviction. "I wish no harm to anyone. Kindly leave this place."
Jayce sighed and armed himself with the Morning Star. "I'm sorry old man, but we need information."
The old man nodded. He said, "I was afraid that you would say that. I share a psychic bond with her, and I shall rather give up my life than betray her." He proclaimed, his unwavering loyalty evident in his eyes. He explained, "Even in death, my final thoughts will be crafted with peace to shield her from suffering."
Sylas, undeterred by the monk's unwavering devotion, said to Jayce, "Capture him alive. I'll get the information we need."
A battle erupted, its intensity heightened by the constraints imposed upon Jayce. Fearful of harming the monk, he refrained from employing any destructive magic, relying solely on his physical prowess. Jayce recited a chant, using alteration magic to make himself lighter, amplifying his speed advantage.
Jayce became a blur of motion as he blocked and parried every strike from the monk faster than he could make them allowing him to counter and push the monk back. Under the weight of the relentless assault, Jayce managed to swat away the monk's weapon, disarming him, swiftly binding him. Meanwhile, Sylas sat on the ground in front of him reciting a chant and delving into the depths of the monk's consciousness. As the two entered a trance-like state, they fell unconscious leaving Jayce to stand guard over them.
Outside, the tempestuous sandstorm raged on, its fury manifesting in the howling winds and swirling sands. Yet, as the storm finally subsided, Sylas stirred from his mental exploration, awakening as though emerging from a prolonged slumber. The monk, too, regained consciousness, his expression clouded with confusion and guilt.
"What have I done?" he whispered, his voice laden with remorse. Jayce untied the monk, leaving the temple with Sylas.
Boarding the sand boat, they departed from the enigmatic temple.