"I will carve my own destiny, no matter the cost."
Adrian woke up slowly, his ears registering the world around him before his eyes could fully cooperate.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, but the light was blinding, forcing him to snap them shut immediately.
His hand instinctively went to his head as he attempted to calm the raging storm inside and shield his eyes from the harsh light.
He struggled to lift himself up, but a searing pain shot through him from his sides.
"Easy there," a voice said gently. "You don't want to undo those stitches."
Adrian groaned softly, overwhelmed by the pain and disorientation.
Despite his best efforts to stay awake, exhaustion soon washed over him like a tide, pulling him into the depths of slumber.
When he woke up again, it was to the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. The harsh daylight had given way to the gentle embrace of night.
He blinked a few times as his surroundings gradually came into focus.
He was no longer in the blindingly bright place he had been earlier.
Instead, he found himself in a dimly lit room, the only source of light coming from a few candles flickering on a nearby table. The scent of burning wax mingled with the earthy aroma of the wooden beams overhead.
The pain in his sides had dulled to a persistent ache, but it was no longer the searing agony he had felt before.
He cautiously pushed himself up into a sitting position, taking in his new surroundings.
It seemed he was in some sort of shelter, a small, rustic room with wooden beams overhead and a simple, comfortable bed beneath him.
Questions swirled in his mind as he tried to piece together where he was and how he had come to be here.
Then there was the dream or was it a vision, of the seven goddesses offering him a chance to get his revenge and also Elena back.
"When you return to your world, find the Temple of Endless Desire. Overcome the challenges and free Lilith. That's your 1st step towards getting what you desire."
The last words Hera spoke before the darkness pulled him back in rang in his head as he stood up.
The air was cool and carried a faint hint of smoke, likely from the fire he could hear crackling somewhere nearby.
Taking slow and cautious steps, Adrian made his way toward the room's entrance, mindful of the lingering ache in his sides.
Reaching the entrance, he paused and listened.
The murmur of voices reached his ears, accompanied by the comforting crackling of a wood fire.
Deep and hearty laughter joined the chorus of sounds.
With curiosity and a sense of hope, he moved closer to investigate, wondering if he might find answers to the questions that had been gnawing at him.
As he drew closer to the group gathered around the fire, one of the men suddenly looked up and let out a shout of surprise.
"He's alive, people!" the man declared, excitement in his voice.
He turned to those sitting around the fire. "Come on, men, pay up, pay up. I told you he still had some life in him."
A chorus of good-natured laughter and the clinking of coins followed as they settled their wagers.
It seemed that Adrian had become the subject of some sort of bet, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and confusion.
He cleared his throat, drawing their attention, and spoke, "Alive indeed. Mind telling me where 'here' is and how I came to be in this state?"
"Calm your horses, comrade," the man who had noticed Adrian said with a friendly grin. "You just came back from the dead. Or you were already on the brink of it before we found you."
With a nod of understanding, Adrian slowly lowered himself onto a nearby log, feeling the pain in his sides.
"Come on," the man continued, offering a hand. "Let's get you something to eat and drink. Then you can tell us about how you got to be out there alone, with a spear hanging out of you."
As Adrian ate, his newfound companions who had saved him, entertained him with their stories and past quests, trying to make him feel at home among them.
The taste of roasted meat and freshly baked bread mingled with the warmth of the fire, providing a welcome comfort.
However, Adrian's mind remained fixated on one thing: how to plan his revenge.
When they eventually asked about how he ended up in the desert, Adrian replied in a cold and succinct manner, highlighting the main points.
"Seemed like you were overpowered the last time. My advice? Get stronger."
"You think I don't know that?" Adrian retorted.
The bonfire crackled and the atmosphere grew quieter. It was then that a member of the group, introducing himself as Draxus, chimed in. "Let's all take a deep breath now."
Adrian took a deep breath, trying to ground himself. "My apologies for how I reacted. I understand you lot saved me and for that I'm grateful. At first light, I'll be on my way."
"Have any idea where you'll be off to?"
"The Temple of Endless Desire," Adrian replied.
There was no response from any of them. Only sound that could be heard was the cracking of the wood as they burned.
Finally, one of them let out a nervous laugh. "I was waiting for when you would say it's a joke but…" he trailed off.
"Apparently, it isn't. I'm heading for the Temple of Endless Desire. Seems you know something about it." Adrian said, adjusting himself slightly.
"Do not bother trying to look for the cave. It's more like a suicide mission."
Adrian turned to face the speaker. "To you, it may seem that way, but to others, it's a lifeline. Tell me about it; I intend to find it."
Another member of the group chimed in, clearly concerned. "We didn't save your ass for you to plan on dying again, you know? We had to drag you halfway across the desert. And now you're planning on risking it all for a myth that no one has proven?"
Adrian met their gaze. "Do I have anything to lose?" he asked rhetorically. "The answer is no. Do I have anything to gain? Yes. So, that's it. I'm finding that cave, and you are going to help me."
"In the heart of the desert's scorching embrace, where the sun kisses the sands, seek the night's cool embrace to find your way," Draxus recited with a tone of mystery.
"That's the guide to the cave, according to the myth," he added.
Adrian couldn't help but scoff at the cryptic riddle. "Sounds like something made up for a bedtime story," he remarked with a hint of frustration.
As he stood up, he thanked them for the meal. "I think I would prefer some time alone at the moment," he said, needing to gather his thoughts.
Unable to sleep, he found himself back outside, seeking the solace of the desert night to clear his racing thoughts.
As he paced around, he spotted one of the mercenaries, a figure named Lorian, sitting alone, gazing at the starry expanse.
"Mind if I join you?" Adrian asked, seeking some company in the quiet darkness.
Lorian nodded and patted the ground beside him. They both settled into a comfortable silence, the desert wind whispering secrets in the night.
"The Temple of Endless Desire does exist," Lorian finally spoke, his voice detached as if recounting a long-buried memory. "I lost my entire family while trying to find it. That's something I haven't spoken about in a long time."
Adrian listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "Did you find it in the end?"
Lorian shook his head. "Yeah, I did find the entrance, but I couldn't bring myself to go in. It wasn't worth it after all."
Adrian leaned in. "Tell me all you know. Like I said, I have nothing to lose."