Darkness.


    That was all they could see within the sand-covered tomb. The sand dripped from the ceiling like an hour-glass, falling silently onto the cracked marble floor below. The tomb was deafeningly quiet, Tycon could almost hear his thoughts out loud and not a single person of the four made a sound. With their footsteps falling quietly upon the sand, they descended, only the faint torchlight giving them any sense of direction.


    They followed a linear hallway that was dotted with aged-porcelain urns, what was within them was anybody''s guess and the hallway seemed to go on indefinitely with no rooms breaking off from it- just an endless trail of urns. Eventually, the four reached a staircase that descended into the heavy darkness below and as they did the cold began to set in. The feeling wasn''t something natural, it felt evil and Tycon shivered, whether, from the cold or fear, he wasn''t sure.


    The sound they heard hadn''t happened again since they entered the tomb and that caused Tycon to become even more anxious. Balin led the group with a torch in hand and Tycon followed closely behind him, gripping the hilt of his dagger, ready for anything. He could feel Ambre''s presence behind him and that was his reassurance, he was thankful that he wasn''t alone in this, though the fear resurfaced as a constant, not just for himself, but his friends too.


    Once they had reached the bottom of the staircase, they arrived in a large room, or, what felt like one. The darkness again obscured any chance for the four to observe their surroundings. Tycon sniffed and the scent that entered his nostrils was one of dust, flesh, and rot.


    "You smell that?" Tycon asked.


    "Yeah, this isn''t good at all," Balin replied, looking ahead.


    Tycon''s shoulders were tense and he darted his eyes in a desperate search for the smell, Balin stopped suddenly and Tycon walked right into his back. Feeling like a fool, he tapped Balin''s shoulder but he didn''t respond, he simply stood there, his frame hiding what had stopped him.


    "What is it?" Tycon asked.


    "It''s them."


    "Who?" Asked Ambre, leaning over Tycon''s shoulder.


    "The mercenaries who came before."


    Tycon darted around Balin to see and instantly regretted it. Before them was a man, torn in half and lying broken by a nearby pillar. His lower half lay not too far and the floor was stained black around him. Tycon leaned and observed what was left of the man''s face. His upper skull was crushed, looking like a popped tomato and the lower half had begun to decompose, the smell was so intense he almost gagged.


    "What could have done this?" Asked Zeke, his eyes wide and his face as white as a ghost.


    Nobody replied. They already knew what had caused it, they just didn''t know what it was.


    "Ambre, I need your torch!" Tycon said.


    "Yeah, sure, here."


    She passed it over to him and he tossed it ahead in front of them, deeper into the room and revealed several more bodies that covered the entire area, the floor was now entirely black with dry blood.


    "Oh shit!" Balin blurted and drew his sword.


    "What the fuck is going on," Said Tycon and drew his weapons as well.


    There was a faint growl further in the darkness and the group took a step back then stood still. Tycon peered into the darkness, hoping to see what the noise was coming from but saw only the deep void of the tomb, growing ever deeper. The fear surged back within his stomach but he ignored it and readied his weapons, holding one of the identical daggers at his front and the other at his back in a reverse grip. Ambre, Balin, and Zeke all had their swords drawn and were ready to pounce on their unknown foe.


    Rushing into the darkness was certainly not a good idea and Tycon knew that. He put his arm out to the side and ushered the group back, waiting for the creature to approach the torchlight. The silence was deafening and his breaths felt loud.


    "What do we do now?" Zeke whispered.


    Tycon heard Balin shush him and Zeke sighed.


    Tycon closed his eyes, focusing his ears and hoping to hear something. After a few moments, he heard it, a soft rhythmic thumping. Faint footsteps that grew increasingly louder, opening his eyes he looked to the torchlight but saw nothing. The footsteps were nearing them now and it was evident the rest of the group heard them too.


    By the time the footsteps were almost before them, Tycon realized they weren''t coming from the front but from the side. He had next to no time to warn the group and he let out a shout, grabbing Ambre and throwing themselves aside as a large claw swept through where the group had stood moments before.


    "Holy shit," Balin shouted, clambering quickly to his feet.


    "Get to the torch, now!" Tycon grunted and Ambre slipped from his arms and burst over toward the torch.


    From what Tycon could observe of the creature from Balin''s faint light was that it was lizard-like, yet not at the same time. It walked on two legs and its skin looked like it was made of rubber, he guessed it would be difficult to penetrate with a blade. The creature towered over the four, with claws that looked like blades, elongated and ready to skewer them.


    "Tycon!" Ambre called his attention.


    He turned and she tossed the torch over to him and he caught it. Facing it toward the creature, he could finally see its face. He wished he hadn''t.


    Its upper face looked similar to a snake, though the lower half appeared like a decaying jaw of a dog. Hot, wet saliva dripped from its razor-sharp black teeth and its piercing serpentine gaze swept a cold fear within him. Tycon knew they would have to fight but was unsure and afraid that they couldn''t bring the beast down.


    Not wasting any time, Tycon rushed for the beast''s ankles and slashed at the Achilles tendon in hopes of it stumbling. He left barely a scratch. Balin and Ambre rushed at its front, narrowly avoiding its efforts to swipe them with its claws. Zeke followed Tycon to the beasts back and the two went in for another attack on the towering creature''s ankles. This time with its complete attention focused on both Balin and Ambre, they were able to leave a sizable mark., though it did little to damage the creature.


    Balin and Ambre continued slashing at the hands of the creature, wildly. The four had no experience fighting a monster, as much as they knew they didn''t even exist. The creature raised both its arms sideways and threw its arms both behind and in front.


    "Jump!" Tycon called and the four dropped to the ground, avoiding the creature''s strikes.


    Tycon was clueless, he didn''t know what to do. Should they run? To him, it didn''t seem like an option, the creature would simply catch up to them and they''d perish one way or another. They had no choice but to fight and if they perished here, it was better to go down fighting than running.


    Tycon launched to his feet and with the momentum he slid between its legs, slashing its thigh as he did. This time something different happened, the skin felt thinner and the creature roared in pain- they had something to focus on now.


    "It''s upper legs, aim there!" Tycon again called.


    With Tycon now standing in front of it, the four rushed for the legs of the creature, Tycon hoped it would bring it down enough to get an attack on its face and hopefully kill it. Before they could all get to its legs however, the creature sidestepped and slashed its claws forward toward Tycon, Balin, and Ambre. Tycon stumbled and almost slipped, he grabbed Ambre and threw her aside but Balin wasn''t quick enough. The creature grabbed him and launched the man aside with a trail of blood splattering in the air, disappearing into the darkness, followed by a loud thump.


    "Balin!" Tycon screamed.


    He turned back to the beast, feeling the rage swell within him and the tears drop down his face. Suddenly the crippling fear was gone, only an intense bloodlust and a blinding rage.


    He grabbed a handful of sand and began running toward the creature, once reaching a close enough distance, he tossed the sand, blinding the beast and slid between its legs again, slashing again at its inner thigh. Again the creature howled. Zeke brushed past Tycon as he reached the other end and pounced on the creatures back, digging his sword within and using it like an ice-pick to climb to its head.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Ambre continued to slash at the creature and holding its attention and Tycon began readying himself for another strike. He ran toward the creature, repeating the same attack, forcing his dagger in deep and completely severing the tendons of its leg. The creature howled and dropped to one knee. Zeke slipped at the sudden movement but quickly regained his grip. Both Ambre and Tycon began cutting at the creature''s wrists, dodging its attempts to hit them back. Zeke had almost reached its head- so Tycon and Ambre jumped back, but the creature slashed its claws as they did. Tycon narrowly dodged the attack and felt the tip of its claws slash over his cheek.


    Feeling Zeke''s presence, the creature reached up over its head and began grasping for the man but it was too late, Zeke had already reached the top. Spinning his sword in a backward grip, he stabbed down into the creature''s head and both Ambre and Tycon lunged forward, thrusting their weapons deep into the neck of the creature. Tycon spun his blades, creating a bigger wound and felt the wet crimson liquid pour over his face. He closed his eyes and mouth, continuing to spin the blades until he heard the last gargle of breath seep from its throat.


    The creature''s body collapsed into a heap on the floor before them, a wasted hunk of flesh now left to rot.


    <hr>


    "Balin!" Tycon called as he saw the man''s broken body lying before him.


    No, no, no.


    He rushed over and quickly pressed his fingers on the man''s neck, looking for a pulse. He waited a few moments but there was nothing.


    Nothing.


    "Fuck, no... No, please."


    Tycon dragged him over on his back and began compressing his chest. He felt Ambre''s presence stop behind him, but she didn''t move any closer, nor did she say anything. She just watched, silently.


    "What the fuck are you doing?" Tycon screamed, "Help him."


    "Tyc-"


    "I don''t care, just get over here and help us."


    Again, she didn''t say anything.


    "Now!" He screamed.


    His throat burned, he was panting and sobbing. His emotions flooded through his mind, one after the other and came full circle like a sick and twisted, self-induced torture cycle. He was panicking, he knew that but he had to save his friend. Why was nobody doing anything? He was going to be fine, he was going to be okay. He kept on compressing Balin''s chest and breathing into his mouth, over and over again, not studying him for a moment. His arms grew sore and his mouth was dry but he couldn''t stop. Not for anything.


    A few moments had passed and he felt a tug at his coat, he ignored it and kept compressing. There was another tug and he shrugged them off. Then suddenly he was grabbed and spun, he saw Ambre staring into him as she grabbed his coat. Zeke stood in the background, avoiding his gaze. Then he felt a hard slap collide with his face.


    "Look at him Tycon, He''s dead!" She screamed, "I know he meant a lot to you, but now isn''t the time to grieve," Her voice softened, "We have to go."


    Tycon looked back to Balin and his heart sunk. His legs were both missing and he lay in a pool of blood. Tycon turned his gaze to his bloodsoaked hands, realizing Balin had bled out long before the battle ended. He returned his gaze to Ambre and she pulled him close to her chest, embracing him and he sobbed harder than he ever had for a long time.


    This night wouldn''t be one he''d forget for a long time. He knew that it would stick with him, like a ghost of regret following his every step. At least, now, he was with his Evaline, at peace and flying far into the heavens. In the very least that thought gave him some sense of content.


    "We have to go," Zeke said, avoiding their gaze, "Let''s get this over with, quickly."


    Tycon leaned back from Ambre''s embrace and sniffled, trying his best to compose himself.


    "We can''t just leave him here!"


    "We''ll return for him on the way out, Tycon," Ambre said, rubbing her hand on his shoulder, "I promise."


    "Alright, " He sighed, "Pass me the torch."


    Ambre passed him the barely lit torch that lie on the blood-soaked floor and he rose to his feet. Walking past the two and began following the trail of bodies they had seen before. The stench was just as strong as it had been when they entered but it no longer bothered Tycon, he simply wished to be done with this job.


    <hr>


    The final chamber was large as the room before it was, except the chamber was well lit. With braziers that emitted an unnatural blue flame with an equally blue glow that covered the entire room. It was circular and both the walls and floor were made of marble, most of it covered by sand. There were two staircases that led down to the main floor of the chamber where a lone sarcophagus sat directly in the middle like an overturned statue, surrounded by the porcelain urns they had seen earlier. The place gave Tycon the creeps, though he pushed on anyway and descended down the stairs on to the main floor with his companion''s behind him, approaching the sarcophagus.


    The sarcophagus was also made of marble with the same strange symbol he saw on the door carved into the lid. He dare not open it, despite his rising curiosity.


    "Ah, so there''s no monster here? Good" Zeke suddenly said.


    "Yeah," Tycon mumbled.


    "I wonder where it is"


    "Probably in the sarcophagus," Said Ambre bluntly.


    Tycon frowned, "I don''t think it''s a good idea to open it."


    "Sure it is," Zeke shrugged and thrust a hand forward and without touching it, the lid was cast across the room with enough force that it became embedded in the nearby wall.


    "What the fuck was that," Tycon said in disbelief.


    "What was what?" Zeke replied, stepping over to the ajar sarcophagus.


    "You''re kidding me, right? You just-"


    "Threw the lid into the wall?" Zeke finished for him.


    Tycon nodded.


    "The monster is dead and you two are of no longer use to me."


    Tycon drew his daggers, blocking Zeke''s approach to the sarcophagus and he simply stopped and chuckled.


    "Pathetic."


    Zeke thrust his hand forward and suddenly Tycon was thrown through the air, hitting the wall with a thud. He felt the air escape his lungs upon the impact and heard Ambre let out a yell followed by the hiss of her unsheathing her blade and then silence. Zeke leaned into the sarcophagus and removed something small from it, something that looked incredibly familiar, something he had seen before.


    Then it hit him.


    It was the same gem that was embedded within the tiara in Selenicar, blue and emitting a faint glow. Transparent and luminescent, looking as beautiful as it had eight months before. How could it get here though? It was left at the bottom of the ocean, it was impossible for it to get here of all places.


    Are there more?What''s their purpose? Why are they so sought after?


    Again Tycon had those questions and more of them, than answers. He climbed to his feet and began approaching Zeke slowly with his daggers at the ready. Not that they''d be much use after Zeke''s display of power.


    "Who are you?" Tycon asked cautiously, still moving slowly towards him.


    Zeke laughed, "The question is, what am I? And I have an inkling that you''ve already guessed, haven''t you? Heres a hint. No normal person can read people."


    Ambre said nothing and stood still in disbelief.


    What Zeke was alluding to was impossible, there was no way a mage could still exist. They disappeared long ago and haven''t returned in any way since but Tycon wasn''t stupid, that display of power was evidence enough. He had no need for more convincing.


    Tycon glanced into the sarcophagus, looking to the skull he saw a marble eye with the pupil now missing.


    "What''s the gem for? I''ve seen it before." Tycon asked, keeping his voice firm.


    "Now, why would I tell you that? I''ve already said too much."


    Tycon felt his rage return as Zeke turned and began walking toward the stairs. With his back turned, Tycon vaulted over the Sarcophagus and rushed at Zeke.


    "Balin fucking died for this? No, I''ll make sure you lie with him."


    Tycon slashed at him but his blades went right through and Zeke turned to a flash of blue light.


    What the?


    "Don''t try that again, Tycon," Zeke said, suddenly appearing above the stairs.


    Tycon saw Ambre in his peripheral, climbing the other set of stairs and out of Zeke''s line of sight. Tycon decided to keep Zeke''s attention on him while she approached for a stealth attack but suddenly she was frozen in place, twitching.


    "I... Can''t... Move," She grunted.


    "You two are lucky that I''m in a rush. Don''t bother trying to kill me, go and bury your dead friend."


    Tycon clenched his jaw, "You fucker."


    Zeke let out a short chuckle and clicked his fingers. A blue light suddenly appeared behind him and he stepped into it. With a flash, both Zeke and the gem were gone.


    The chamber was suddenly cast into darkness and silence fell over them. The gem was lost, Balin was gone. All this and they had nothing to show for it.


    Nothing.


    <hr>


    The sun rising over the dunes was as beautiful as ever, despite the heat that always accompanied it. The trip back was long and slow, mostly in silence. The two talked from time to time but the vibe was grim and defeated. The two had decided to return to Meliora for a restock of supplies, then were quickly on their way out of the desert. They didn''t bother returning to the contractor, there was no point. They had nothing.


    They had used the last of their firewood to build a funeral pyre for Balin and collected the ashes to take with them. It didn''t feel right bringing a corpse with them.


    Ambre had been good to him, she was always there to comfort him during the night. She knew what he was going through and felt the same too. He had never met anyone that made him feel the way she did, she meant a lot to him and he cherished every moment with her. He glanced over and watched her as she rode ahead of him. they were approaching the border back into the heartland of Sciolyn. The sight of green brought a smile to Tycon''s face and he could tell Ambre felt the same. They were finally away from that hot and sandy hellscape.


    "So where are we going now?" Ambre asked as they approached the border.


    "The village of Hindal. I want to bury Balin there."


    "I think he''d like that."


    <hr>


    His footsteps clacked as he walked upon the clean marble floor. The castle was always spotless, one of the perks of using magic. The walls were lined with ancient artworks from unknown worlds as well as portraits of mages who lived long ago. He always found the castle incredibly gorgeous, nothing from any world could compare to it. The rooms were lit by luminescent orbs, a light source that remained infinite with no need of replenishing. Just smelling the sterile air again made him glad he was no longer in the dirty city of sand.


    The whores were worth it though, he smiled to himself.


    Finally, he had reached the Throne room where a lone man sat, his leg lazily placed over the arm of the golden throne. He was sipping from a goblet and occasionally playing with his long and bright white hair. The man seemed to notice his footsteps and glanced over at him with his piercing emerald eyes.


    "Ah, Zekhalin. How was your trip to the other world?"


    "Quite awful to be honest Lord Alimar"


    Alimar smirked and shifted his position back to normal, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.


    "Did you get it? The gem?" He asked calmly.


    Zekhalin opened out his hand and dropped to one knee, presenting the gem. Alimar rose from the throne and approached Zekhalin, observing the gem sitting upon his open palm.


    "Ah, there it is. Such a pretty little thing," He paused and picked it up, ogling it, "I hope you didn''t find this one underwater like the last one. That took so incredibly long."


    "This one was much more difficult to acquire, my Lord."


    "And to see you so successful gives me great faith in your abilities."


    Alimar pocketed the gem into his white-gold waistcoat.


    "You''ve done a great thing, Zek. Can I call you Zek?"


    "Of course, my Lord"


    "You''re dismissed."