Chapter 10: Lost in the Desert
Emi and her friends set out once again to explore the ruins of Inkara. As they walked among the crumbling walls and broken arches, Emi couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the beauty and grandeur of the ancient city.
The professor had warned them to be back at the same place before 6 and had strictly instructed them not to play around or go outside the site. The desert around the site was vast, and it was easy to get lost in it. He had also assigned Emi and Allen to look after the students' group.
But as they continued to explore, Emi overheard two students, Robin and Aster, making a challenge between them. They said they would go into the desert and come back before anyone could notice. Emi's heart sank at the thought of the danger they were putting themselves in.
She quickly informed Allen, and they both rushed to stop them. But when they reached the spot where they had seen the two students last, they were nowhere to be found.
Emi's friend, Eve, started scolding Allen, saying that he couldn't take care of the group properly. Allen's friends retorted back, and soon an argument broke out.
Emi and Allen were annoyed and knew that the first priority was to find Robin and Aster. They calmed everyone down and told them that they needed to search for the two students.
Eve suggested that they should inform the professor, but Emi knew that if they did, Robin and Aster's credits would be cut, and they would be punished harshly. Moreover, it was their responsibility to make sure things didn't fall apart. So they decided to search for them themselves.
Together, Emi and Allen led the group in the direction they had seen Robin and Aster go. The desert was vast and unforgiving, and it was easy to get turned around and lost.
But Emi and Allen were determined to find the two students. They called out their names, but there was no response. The sun was beginning to set, and they knew that they had to find them soon.
As they walked, Emi noticed something in the distance. It was a small, dark shape that looked like a person. She pointed it out to Allen, and they rushed towards it.
As they got closer, they saw that it was Robin and Aster, lying on the ground. They were exhausted and dehydrated, and they could barely speak.
Emi and Allen quickly gave them water and helped them up. They were relieved that they had found them before anything worse could happen.
As they made their way back to the site, Emi couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude and relief. They had found the two students, and they had done it without getting them in trouble.
But as they walked back, Emi couldn't help but think about the legend of Queen Ximena and the curse that haunted Inkara. She wondered if they had unknowingly crossed some invisible boundary and had provoked the wrath of the queen's curse.
She shook off the thought and focused on the present. They had found Robin and Aster, and they were all safe. And that was all that mattered.