This group stood at the edge of the great desert, wastes of a place named Aldareth, which was a sea of golden sand that stretched to where no man's eye could see.
The sun above showed no mercies, tanning down with an intensity that drained their energy even before they actually began.
"This is worse than I imagined," Finn muttered, huddling his face into the hood of his cloak to block out the sun.
Lyra tapped her staff against the ground, casting a faint sheen of shielding magic around the circle. "This should help with the heat, at least for a while. But we need to find shelter soon or risk exhaustion.
Alaric stood a few paces in front of them, his eyes fixed at some point over the horizon. "The ruins of Aldareth are several days' travel from here. The dunes will try to trick you-don't take your eyes off the landmarks I show you, or you're off course."
Jasper tightened his grip on his sword and nodded. "Then let's go, now. The longer we wait, the worse this is going to get.
It had been a grueling first day out in the desert. The sand had shifted unpredictably beneath their feet, with every step being an utter chore.
Shimmering heat distorted the horizon, creating mirages that only messed with your mind.
"Does anybody else see that?" Finn asked, pointing ahead to what merely looked like an oasis.
"It's not real," Raylan said firmly. "Keep moving."
As the day wore on, the group's tempers started to fray. The oppressive heat and relentless sun pushed their patience to the breaking point.
"Why did we ever trust this old man?" Finn growled, glaring at Alaric.
Alaric stopped and turned, his face composed yet grave. "Because without me, you'd be wandering these sands until they claimed you. You're free to leave, but don't expect to survive on your own.
"Enough," Jasper said, stepping between them. "We're all tired, but fighting each other won't help. Let's focus on getting through this."
Lyra placed a reassuring hand on Finn's shoulder. "He's right. Save your strength for the real enemy."
Reluctantly, Finn nodded, and the group pressed on.
As the sun finally set, the temperature dropped rapidly, and what once was desert became a frozen wasteland.
The group, huddled around a small fire, welcomed relief from the sun but watched warily as shadows danced around them.
As they ate their meager rations, Jasper noticed that Alaric sat a bit apart from the others, staring into the flames with that distant look in his eyes.
Something on your mind?" Jasper asked, walking over to him.
Alaric glanced up, his expression unreadable. "The desert is not just a physical challenge....It preys on the mind, bringing forth memories and fears you thought buried."
Stay vigilant, young one. The sands are alive in their own way.
Jasper frowned, at a loss for words. He changed subjects. "You said you served Malachar before. What made you turn against him?"
Alaric's face darkened, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "Malachar promises power to those that follow him, but his price is always too high. I saw what he did to those who failed him- how he consumed their very souls to fuel his magic. I couldn't bear to be part of that any longer."
Jasper nodded, sensing the pain in the old man's voice. "Then help us make sure no one else has to suffer like that."
Alaric gave a faint smile. "That is why I'm here."
The next day brought a new challenge. As they trudged through the dunes, the wind kicked up, and a monstrous sandstorm began to breed in the distance.
"We need to find shelter now!" Raylan shouted over the howling wind.
"There's nothing out here!" Finn yelled back, his voice laced with panic.
Stay close!" Alaric shouted, raising his staff. In a flash, he incanted an even more faded barrier of light that wrapped itself around the group, protecting them against the worst of the storm. "We must press on. The tempests will disorient us if we stop.
The sandstorm raged around them, visibility reduced to almost nothing. Jasper clutched at Lyra's arm, his grip tight to make sure she did not fall behind.
Finn stumbled but managed to keep up while Raylan remained close to Alaric, his sword drawn despite the futility in using it against the storm.
Hours dragged on like an eternity as they struggled with the wind and sand. Just when it seemed they couldn't fight anymore, the storm subsided and they made their way into an alien clearing, an eerie place.
The sandstorm had unearthed part of some ancient structure, its jagged stone walls rising out of the dunes like the bones of some long-dead beast.
The walls were adorned with strange carvings that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"This isn't Aldareth," Lyra said, her voice full of wonder. "But it's old. maybe older.
Alaric approached the structure warily, his eyes scanning the carvings. "This is a remnant of the old world-a place where magic was born. Be wary-such places are often guarded."
As if in response to his words, the ground beneath them began to shake. The sand cracked, and from those cracks rose skeletal figures, their bones sheathed in ghostly blue flames.
"Defend yourselves!" Raylan shouted, raising his sword.
These skeletal guardians moved at a rather unsettling velocity, their swords of flame swishing through the air. Jasper blocked one such strike with his sword, the sparks flying as the blades clashed.
He responded with a burst of light magic, shattering the skeleton before it was able to strike again.
Lyra raised her staff, casting a wave of ice which slowed down the oncoming enemies. "Focus your attacks on the ones with blue flames! They are controlling the others!" she shouted.
Raylan and Finn fought back-to-back, their movements mirrored in perfect synchrony as they cut down skeletal warriors.
Alaric remained behind them, chanting a spell that created protective barriers around the group.
The combat was heavy, however, and this group had to tap into every last morsel of strength and prowess.
Finally, it was Jasper and Lyra, striking together, that destroyed the last of the blue-flamed skeletons, with the other guardians falling to dust and nothing.
Panting heavily, Jasper looked around at the battlefield. Again, silence descended on the ruins, though the carvings on the walls shone brighter now, as if in appreciation of their victory.
"What now?" Finn asked, his weight landing on the staff for support.
Alaric stepped forward, his gaze set upon the carvings. "These markings hold a clue to Aldareth's location. If we can decipher them, they'll lead us to the key.
Jasper nodded, his intent renewed. The fight was cruel, but it had thrust them closer to their goal.
As the group engrossed themselves with the carvings, Jasper just couldn't let go of this nagging feeling that the desert had more trials in store for them.
For the time being, however, they had hope a fragile but vital light in the encroaching darkness.