-3 hours before Solan's descent-
[Music resonates throughout the town]
[Joyful banters coalesce in song]
The Rampart Culture festival is in full swing. The bustling streets were filled to the brim with excited townspeople. Bars and taverns are overflowing with life as they laugh and drink until their heads fall off. Massive banners strung up on the sides of buildings, and magic lights float, dancing around the sky, sparkling, as if stardust manifested around you in every direction. Sarah was captivated by the sight. She was never able to experience the culture festival before due to complications with quests. This is the first time she's ever seen it, and she doubts this is a memory she will ever forget.
As Sarah aimlessly wanders the town, mesmerized by the beauty of the festival, a lone man in a long white coat can be seen leaning on the town gate in the distance. Arieth, notebook in hand, is patiently waiting for his escort to arrive.
Sarah was diligent in preparing for this expedition, for Arieth had mentioned they would be out for a couple of days at least. The anticipation was killing her.
Robe stashed full and spirits held high, she begins to walk towards the entrance of the town. She noticed Arieth, leaning against the wall, looking like some elegant prince, about to take off with the love interest in a shitty rom-com series. It made her cringe a little, looking at him.
He looks up from the notebook to look at Sarah as if anticipating her exact arrival time.
They both wave at each other, eyes wide with anticipation. Arieth shows a gentle smile while beckoning her to him.
Sarah: "Right on time, are we?" Sarah scoffed, impressed by how diligent this biologist could be.
"If you aren't 15 minutes early, you're late." He remarks, "Besides, what kind of scientist would I be if I don't revel in the little things?"
Closing the notebook and reaching around him, he pulls out a large map. He points on the map, showing Sarah exactly what route they'll be taking when crossing the Denosins Desert. Sarah, concerned, points out the fact that they would be going directly through the heart of sand worm territory.
"Should be fine, they're mainly daytime hunters. If we cut through their territory sooner, the faster we can observe them."
***
Arieth had set up a wagon before Sarah's arrival. On board, it had all the essentials. Food rations, tent, fire starters, cooking wares, utensils, etc-etc. The man was a diligent packer.
Arieth: "We have enough rations for a week if we save them properly, should be good enough for you, yes?"
"Depends on how much you plan on making me fight, but I should be fine."
Sarah notices something odd with the camel attached to the wagon– As if he already knew what she was curious about, he remarks that he had meticulously bioengineered the camel for longer travel.
"I enhanced its physical and endurance capabilities using support magic. I collect essence in the surrounding environment and focus it on different parts of the camel in precise detail. Kinda like a puzzle piece."
"Kinda like permanent support magic. Never seen essence used like this before." Sarah stated, hopping onto the back of the wagon, Arieth soon following.
[A snap of the whip breaks the silence of dusk]
"Shall we?"
***
The sounds of the townspeople slowly get dimmer and dimmer as we venture out further from the village. The creaking of the wagon pierced the silence of the night. Crickets can be heard echoing from the distance, singing a song as if a second culture festival were present in the dunes. Looking out on the surrounding scenery, she notices how flat the sand is, for they have traveled well beyond the village confines now, all that surrounds them is desert. The dunes, bending like waves upon an endless sea, bounce across the horizon. The moon's light, reflected off the top of the sand, sprayed out as if tiny crystals made up the dunes.
Sarah looks up at the sky, gazing out at the millions of stars that lie before her.
Arieth: "What do you think lies beyond the stars?" he said curiously
"Hope."
"Hope?"
"Yeah, I'd like to think so. I mean, just knowing that there's always something out there, not fill you with hope?"
"I find it intimidating," he said, curious about her reasoning, "I mean, doesn't the idea of something always being out of reach not scare you?"
"It does" – "But there's beauty in that"
"How so?"
"Maybe the idea that there's always something more, something to strive for, a goal that lies just beyond your sight. After all, all you need to do is open your eyes."
Arieth: "Well put, Ms. Philosopher."
They both laugh at the sudden switch in tone.
"I do wonder, maybe there's something more for me than just being an adventurer."
A silence once again permeates the quiet dunes, as if the sands themselves resonate with the words just spoken.
***
Some time passes, and the sun is completely out of sight. The atmosphere has changed now, the air is thicker.
[A harsh wind blows from beyond the dunes]
[A presence can be felt all through the desert]
The very earth itself shifts towards a presence still unknown to Sarah. Terranova has accepted a long forgotten guest. The very essence of the world begins to vibrate. Sarah can sense that something has changed.
"Huh?"
"Something wrong?" Arieth asks, curious about the sudden outburst.
"Something feels weird… It's hard to explain, it's as though the density of essence had increased in some way."
"Maybe it's your imagination," Arieth replies quickly.
"Maybe."
Sarah, still contemplating the feeling she just felt, begins to calm her nerves after a while. Maybe the long wagon rides have gotten to her.
The wagon comes to a stop near a boulder lodged in the ground.
Arieth: "This seems like a good spot, let's set up camp here."
— he begins to rein in the camel, stopping just short of the massive rock. Along with Sarah's efforts, they were able to set up camp rather quickly.
[*Flick*, *Flick*]
[*Flick*]
"These damn matches, they must have gotten wet somehow…" Arieth says, disheartened.
With the quick materialization, Sarah points the staff towards the unlit campfire.
"I got it."
[FWOOSH]
With a quick flare, the tiny spark that emanates from her wand now burns bright along the wood.
"Great work, Sarah, you're a lifesaver!" Arieth remarks, overjoyed at his luck
Arieth: "But I thought you were an ice mage. I remember your staff has a clear affinity towards that form of essence."
Sarah: "Yeah, I'm strongest with ice magic, but I can manipulate a small amount of fire from time to time. Comes in handy"
[A dark presence can be felt from behind you]
In one quick motion, Sarah turns around, aiming her staff, ready to strike at any moment.
"Woah, woah, woah, what's going on?" Arieth said, eager to find out what the commotion is for.
"I think we're being followed," Sarah stated, concerningly.
"You're imagining things, nobody could have followed us out here, and besides there's nowhere to hide!" He remarked convincingly, "We're safe, It's just you being on edge. We are in big-worm territory here."
Sarah slowly lowers her staff, dematerializing it. She sits down, almost looking defeated, and maybe a little embarrassed.
"Here, have some soup."
"Thanks."
Arieth hands her a bowl of gruel, still hot from the cauldron. The smell is just as enticing as it looks. It's incredible chef skills. Arieth, slowly leaning back against the rock,
"Try to get some rest tonight," He stated, taking a big spoonful of soup.
"We do have a long day ahead of us."