The day following their close call with the shadowy beasts, Jasper, Lyra, Finn, and Flit woke up soaked and tired, yet still set on finishing what they started.
The stream had swept them away from where they meant to go landing them in strange surroundings. The world around them looked different.
instead of seeing woods and slopes, they saw dry flatlands and hills of sand as far as they could see.
While they dried off under the morning light, Jasper took out the Star Crystal once more. It had shown them the way up to now, and they hoped it would point to the next shrine.
Jasper shut his eyes zeroing in on the weak energy inside the crystal. After a bit, he felt a faint pull, but this time it felt odd.
The force was more noticeable than before, and it seemed to aim right at the big desert in front of them.
"It's telling us to go into the desert," Jasper said opening his eyes and glancing at his friends.
Finn scowled at the dunes in the distance. "The desert? That's bad news. We'll bake out there, and we don't have enough water for a long trip."
Lyra agreed. "He's got a point. To go into the desert, we need to get ready. The heat and lack of supplies could put us in as much danger as the dark sorcerers."
Jasper knew time was short, but he didn't want to risk getting lost or stuck in the desert without water or shelter. "We might find a village close by. We'll need to stock up before we head into the desert."
With this idea, they started walking where the crystal pointed hoping to find a town to gather supplies. The sun blazed down on them as they hiked across the rocky ground.
As they went on, the air got drier, and the ground under their feet changed to sand.
They trudged for hours before a tiny hamlet appeared in the distance. Seeing it brought comfort, and they rushed in its direction longing for cover from the sun and something to drink.
After hours of walking, they finally spotted a small village from afar. The sight of it was a relief, and they hurried toward it, eager for shade and water.
The village was simple, with low stone buildings and narrow streets lined with market stalls.
The people here wore light, flowing robes to protect themselves from the harsh sun. As they entered the village, the locals gave them curious looks, but no one seemed alarmed by their presence.
Jasper, Lyra, and Finn headed straight for the market, where they purchased water, food, and some light blankets to protect themselves from the sun.
As they stocked up on supplies, they overheard a conversation between two villagers that caught their attention.
"They say the desert spirits have been restless lately," one villager said, his voice low and wary. "There are rumors of strange things happening near the ancient ruins."
His companion nodded. "I've heard the same. People have been disappearing near the ruins. It's best to stay away."
Jasper exchanged a look with Lyra and Finn. "The ancient ruins… that could be where the next altar is."
Lyra agreed. "It sounds like dark magic is involved. The ruins might be the location we're looking for."
With their supplies gathered, the group decided to ask around for more information about the ruins.
They found an elderly man sitting outside one of the shops, and he seemed more than willing to share what he knew.
"The ruins are about two days' journey into the desert," the old man said. "They're dangerous, especially now with all the strange things going on. People say the spirits of the dead walk there at night. No one who goes there comes back."
"Do you know exactly where the ruins are?" Jasper asked Calmly.
The old man nodded and gave them rough directions. "Head northeast. The ruins are marked by a large stone arch, half buried in the sand. But be careful. The desert has its own way of testing those who travel through it."
Jasper and his crew thanked the old man and the left the village and prepared for their journey into the desert.
They packed as much water and food as they could carry, knowing that the trek ahead would be difficult.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the sand, they set off, hoping to reach the ruins before anything else could catch up with them.
The first day in the desert was Sunny. The sun was relentless, and every step felt like a struggle as the sand shifted beneath their feet.
The heat made it hard to breathe, and even with their supplies, they were constantly thirsty.
But despite the discomfort, the Star Crystal continued to guide them. Jasper kept it close, feeling its faint pull leading them further into the endless dunes.
By the time night fell, they were exhausted. The temperature in the desert dropped quickly, and they wrapped themselves in the blankets they had bought, trying to stay warm.
As they set up camp, the desert seemed creepy quiet, with only the sound of the wind blowing across the sand to keep them company.
Finn shivered, even under his blanket. "I never thought I'd be so cold in a desert."
Lyra chuckled softly, though she looked just as tired.
"That's the desert for you. Burning hot in the day and freezing cold at night."
Jasper was too tired to speak, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them.
The desert was vast and empty, but it felt alive in a strange way, like the very sands were hiding secrets.
As they drifted off to sleep, Flit kept watch, fluttering above the camp, her tiny wings glowing faintly in the darkness.
The second day was even more difficult. The further they traveled into the desert, the more oppressive the heat became...
Their water supplies were dwindling, and the vast expanse of sand seemed to stretch on forever.
By midday, they had to stop and rest under the shade of a large rock. The heat was unbearable, and even talking seemed like too much effort.
"I hope we're getting close," Finn said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I don't know how much longer we can keep going like this."
Jasper checked the Star Crystal again. The pull was stronger now, which meant they were getting closer to their destination.
But he could tell that his friends were exhausted, and he worried about what they would face once they reached the ruins.
"We'll make it," Jasper said, trying to sound confident. "We're almost there."
As the sun began to set once again, the landscape around them started to change. The dunes became smaller, and in the distance, they could make out the shape of a large stone structure rising out of the sand.
"The ruins," Lyra whispered, her voice filled with awe. "We found them."
Jasper's heart raced as they approached the ancient site. The stone arch the old man had mentioned was there, half buried in the sand, just as he had described.
The ruins were massive, with crumbling walls and broken pillars that had been worn down by centuries of wind and sand.
But as they got closer, Jasper felt a strange energy in the air dark and cold like the presence of something ancient and powerful.
"This is it," he said quietly. "The next altar is here."
They had reached the ruins, but the real challenge was just beginning. The dark magic that lingered in the air told them that Malachar and the other dark sorcerers were not far behind.
As they entered the ruins, Jasper knew that whatever they were about to face would test their strength like never before.
But they had no choice. The fate of the world depended on them finding and destroying the altar before the dark sorcerers could claim its power.