Walking back down the road I came from, with a bag in my arms, I finally got back to the camping equipment store.
At the cashier, Sean and Luke's faces were visible. Sean, as ever looked disinterested in anything and everything, while Luke, yeah, Luke was just normal.
I got inside the store and Sean immediately noticed my presence. Good, he seems to be getting better notice of his surroundings… I thought to myself with a slight raise of my lips.
"Are you finished?" I voiced my question.
Luke stared by my side and spoke up, "Ah, Elias, we were just about finished checking everything out… What's that on your back?" He asked with curiosity.
"This, oh no don't worry, just something I thought I might need, after all, we're going to dive inside a dungeon." I raised my eyebrows while saying that.
"Oh, okay I understand. Now, come here and help us carry the bags." He prompted me to get on moving, and I did.
***
We got home a little earlier and started packing our stuff.
It will take a lot of time to clear the dungeon so we will buy a lot of water when we go to the city the Dungeon is.
As for food, we got tons of dried rations, like meat and fruits, considering that they can go without spoiling for 2-3 weeks up to 6 months(if it's in a freezer).
We got three big bags, one per each of us, in which we'll have our dried rations, water, tent, small heaters, 3 flash light's each, obviously clothes and other small equipment.
"Hmph!" I released a breath as I took a hold of the bag, quite heavy, it was probably around 10 kilos or something.
What can we do, it's our first time diving into a dungeon in this world and an unexplored one at that! Of course, we should be cautious. I shrugged as I talked that line in my mind.
***
"Hmmm, the flight is tomorrow, right?" I talked to particularly no one and received an answer from Luke instead.
"Yeah, it is at eight in the morning, so we have to wake up early. I already paid for our plane tickets," He casually informed me.
I asked him another question, "By the way, where even is this 'Dune Dungeon' you told me about?"
Luke raised a brow as he said, "I didn't tell you?"
"Nope," I affirmed instantly.
He articulated, "The 'Dune Dungeon' is in the Perpetuity Sand Dunes, the dungeon's name is bland, but that's what it shows on top of the dungeon itself."
"I see… Well, I guess I'll go to sleep right now. Good night." I said my goodbyes for the night and went up the stairs and into my room.
Sigh
A frown covered my face as I closed the door shut, Layla's bed in the center of the room, I always fix it, even though no one's been sleeping there for the past 3 weeks.
"Why am I having such a hard time without you…?" I muttered quietly to the dark space of the room.
I made my floor bed, got under the covers, and memories of my time with Layla flooded in and managed to make the darkness of the sleep swallow me.
***
Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep
"Ngh," I slapped the clock as I yawned, it was still dark outside. Considering we are in the middle of January, it is expected.
I quietly got out of bed and started clothing up, got out of the room, went into the bathroom, went downstairs, ate a basic breakfast, and got myself ready mentally and physically to start this journey.
I met with Luke and Sean immediately after getting out of the room, they were getting ready too.
***
"Well guys, shall we get going?" Luke talked to us with a clear voice.
"Yeawwh!" Sean agreed as he yawned, still sluggish from the sleep.
We left the house, got in a taxi, went to the airport, waited in line, and boarded.
It was my first time getting on a plane, so a small bit of excitement and fear were overtaking my mind and body.
Ever since learning about planes, I always wanted to board one, and with the amount of height it gets to, I can't wait!
The plane started its engines and started moving. The turbulence was quite loud and annoying, which I didn't mind when we reached a certain speed and the plane started ascending in the air, I had quite some adrenaline.
After we reached a certain height, the plane became more stable, and I could see the ground clearly well from here.
It's as if I'm looking from a map app, even better! I thought incited about this whole situation,
***
Around three to four hours later, the plane finally started descending and I got the same rush of adrenaline as when it was ascending, though, this time it felt more extreme. I don't know, maybe it is the fear of flying on a plane for the first time.
The plane landed safely, and we started to disembark the machine, grabbed hold of our bags, got a taxi, and went to an inn in the vicinity.
This place seemed like a basic city… Where can there be any deserts around here I wonder… I thought to myself as I gazed around the expanse.
"We're going to stay here today," Luke announced and continued, "Tomorrow we'll probably reach the Perpetuity Sand Dunes around the middle of the day, so make sure you eat, drink, hang out however much you can because from tomorrow u won't see any of this for a while." He continued talking on and on as if scolding us.
"Yes yes, we get it so go already!" Sean urged him.
I looked at a clock on the wall. Oh, that time already…
Meh, I don't mind it.
"Sean, let's go!" I called out to him.
"Yeah, let's see if this place has anything good to offer."