Chapter Five: Moment of Realization (2)
Dusken came to his senses not long after realizing his side ability and went to set up a small fire.
Since the dried wood he and Kyle had picked up on their way was sparse, the fire wasn't that large, but it was enough for both of them.
He decided to start roasting the meat from the creature while discussing his plans.
"Tomorrow, we will set out as early as dawn, though we don't have anything to store water in, we'll have to find a way. Even if it's by molding the desert sand, we'll try,"
A fragrant aroma filled the area as the fire crackled, casting shifting shadows of him and Kyle that sent ripples through his mind.
"You know what?" he added with a calm tone.
Kyle shifted and glared at him.
"What?" he responded with palpable annoyance at the fact that he had been ignored earlier by Dusken.
Dusken turned to face the frowning Kyle.
"So, what clan do you come from? As for me, I come from the Clan of Night," he asked, a sly smile on his face.
Kyle let out a heavy sigh as his frowning expression changed into one of despondency.
"Trust me, my backstory is a sad one, but I still look ahead with a calm expression on my face," Kyle let out a slight smile while staring at the fire with a lost look on his face, then he added;
"My grandfather is the lord of our clan, but he was poisoned when on a very important mission, and since then his level has dropped constantly, and now he is just a bit over level twenty of the preeminent rank, from… level forty-five."
Tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice slightly choked as he spoke.
A bit of surprise rippled in Dusken's heart when he heard Kyle's words, but didn't show it outward.
There were seven ranks to power and these ranks were: Awakened, Preeminent, Reverend, Mythical, Sacred, Ultimate and Celestial Rank.
Each rank had minor levels that differentiated them, just like the Awakened rank began with level one.
The drop from level forty-five Preeminent Rank to level twenty was like the difference between heaven and earth, and although these levels were under the same rank, there was a great difference in strength.
Dusken was unfazed by Kyle's mood, not because he was unmoved by Kyle's backstory, but because he had experienced breakdowns many times in his past life and had gained solid control over his emotions.
The pain of losing a loved one? He had felt it. Sorrow and loneliness of growing alone? He had experienced it. The pain of being helpless? That was his long-lost brother.
Love, guilt, shame and sadness flashed through his mind, but he suppressed them all, returning to a tranquil state. He had experienced all that Kyle had faced multiple times over in his past life.
So, why should his expression change, just because of a dying person that he didn't even know?
'Well, a sad story, indeed, but it's just a pity,' Dusken thought, shaking his head internally.
"Well, your backstory is rough, but at least you're still alive, right? How about you aim for growing stronger, finding the cure for your grandfather's illness, and healing him; case solved, isn't it?" Dusken spread his arms wide, and under the crackling of the small fire, his voice took on a dramatic tone.
Kyle let out a soft sigh.
"Do you really think it's that easy? My grandfather would probably die before I grow strong enough to save him," he responded, his expression sad.
Dusken shook his head.
"Just rebuild a new clan, then. Who would die would die anyway; your grandfather would probably still perish later on even if you healed him. If you truly want to honour him, take over his position and rule the clan, life goes on." he said the truth of what had been experienced by him to Kyle.
However, Kyle suddenly stood up, pointing at Dusken in rage.
"Y-you…" He stammered, at a loss of what to say, visibly trembling with tears streaming down his face. "You don't even care about people's emotions. You talk as if life and death are insignificant."
Dusken was gobsmacked; it seemed that Kyle had misunderstood him; all he wanted was simply to help.
Not bothering to explain himself, he turned around, deciding to give Kyle some privacy while focusing completely on the meat he was roasting.
An imperceptible glint flashed through Kyle's eyes as he stared at Dusken's back, his expression lost in thought.
'Just you wait', Kyle thought, gritting his teeth.
Dinner was overly silent; Kyle wasn't in the mood to talk, and Dusken wasn't interested, either.
Additionally, the meat was completely tasteless without spices, but its aroma was amazing, leaving Dusken frustrated yet glad he wasn't starving.
The bland taste of the food added to the downcast atmosphere in the area.
Dusken and Kyle shivered under the cold breeze of the night; the desert had been deadly hot during the day and was bone-chilling at night, the only thing giving them warmth was the crackling fire.
Dusken surveyed the area, still getting used to his ability to see at night. He gazed in every direction, and this act made Kyle look at him weirdly, but he just brushed Kyle's stare off.
He particularly lingered his gaze in the West where the god's palace was said to lay.
After traversing the desert throughout the entire day, he had only seen the vast expanse of the desert; and now understood why it had been called the Neverending Desert in the description of the scroll.
Just as he was about to look away, he saw something that made him visibly tremble, catching Kyle's attention.
In the distance, although so far that it wouldn't be easy to decipher, a massive cliff lay under a gray sky, crowned by a palace at its pinnacle, looming in all its domineering, overwhelming glory.
'The god's palace'
This thought appeared in his mind as his eyes flashed with understanding; no matter how far he and Kyle had walked, they had never seen the palace of the gods, and it couldn't be a coincidence that it was now visible at night.
There was only one possibility, which was that the Neverending Desert could only be traveled at night, rendering it endless during the day.
Dusken trembled as this realization dawned on him, and Kyle's expression reflected dark excitement as he shook from head to toe, like someone who had finally found something they had searched for, for a very long time.
Kyle's stare shifted at Dusken's back, his mouth twisting into a smile - dark, harrowing and sinister.
'Today shall be your end,' Kyle thought as the air shifted like it was generating an attack.