When Zeke woke up the next morning, the first rays of light were already streaming in through the single window of the private room of the carriage. A groan involuntarily escaped his lips as he tried to rise. Zeke looked down and took in the state of his body. He gasped, taking note of the condition he was in.
His palms had dozens of scars crisscrossing them. On top of that, his clothes, hair, and body were smeared with half-congealed blood. He found a patch of clothing that seemed relatively dry and wiped the palms of his hands clean. He grimaced. There was a strange, acrid taste in his mouth. Looking at the clumpy stain on the floor, it was clear he had thrown up in his sleep.
His lips formed a bitter smile. He had really overdone it this time. Out of all his research binges, this was the worst as of yet… though not by much. However, thinking back to the last scenes before passing out he remembered something else.
He searched his surroundings, eager to find the result of his spell, but the only thing he found was another puddle of blood on the floor where the [Blood Manifestation] should have been. The spell must have run out of Mana while he was asleep. A shame, he would have liked to observe it for a bit longer.
"Dragon, are you okay?"
"I am ok, whelp," the Dragon said, surprising Zeke with the speed of his reply.
"How was the body?"
"It was… satisfactory," it said after a moment. "…You did well."
Zeke's eyes widened. This was the first time the Dragon had said something even remotely nice to him, and the experience momentarily caught him off guard. However, he soon turned his brief embarrassment into a chuckle and replied smoothly, "I am glad to hear that. Can't wait to see you in action."
The Dragon's voice turned bloodthirsty and predatory. "Neither can I."
***
The sun was already high up in the sky when Zeke emerged. He had used the last couple of hours to get his body back into a presentable shape. He had been somewhat successful, as all the scars and blood were gone alongside the paleness of his skin. He was also wearing his last set of clean clothing, making him appear neat and tidy. However, there was no hiding his gaunt face. The two weeks of malnutrition and lack of sleep would take more than a couple of hours to make disappear, even for him.
Zeke squinted at the bright light. Spending so much time indoors had made him unaccustomed to its harsh glare. But after a few moments of furious blinking, his surroundings came into focus and his jaw dropped.
All around him was an endless plain of sand. No matter where he looked, all he could see was an infinite expanse of sandy waves. It looked like an ocean of golden water, frozen in time.
So, this was a desert.
Zeke had, of course, read about the desert. In fact, he knew everything about it. The creatures that lived here, the temperature difference between night and day. He had even memorized the map of this entire kingdom. However, none of that had prepared him for the sight in front of his eyes. After all, the true majesty and grandeur of nature weren't something that could be conveyed in mere words.
In the next moment, the sound of muffled footsteps drew his attention. Zeke recomposed himself and turned in the direction of the approaching noise. From behind the carriage next to him emerged a young man with brown hair and fierce, amber eyes.
Leo carried two bowls of food, and he seemed focused on not spilling its contents as he walked through the sand. However, the moment his gaze met Zeke's, a smile instantly blossomed on his face. "About time you came out. The guards were beginning to think you died in that hole."
Zeke squinted at his brother. "Why would they think that?"
Leo handed him one of the bowls and motioned for him to follow as he explained. "Well, the smell of blood, for one. Also, they stopped delivering food to you a couple of days ago, but you still didn't come out."
A couple of days ago? Had it been that long? He really needed to pay more attention to that in the future. However, he couldn't respond as he was too busy gulping down the savory meat broth Leo had brought.
Leo wasn't offended by his lack of response as he continued his explanation. "Of course, I told them that this was normal for you. But they didn't believe it. In fact, nobody was even willing to get close to your room anymore."
Zeke finished the broth with a sigh, still unsatisfied. But before he could even ask, Leo handed him the second one. Ahh, his brother truly knew him best. With gusto, he started on the second bowl.
They were still walking alongside the carriages with Leo leading the way. It was apparent that he had a specific goal in mind. While they walked, Zeke noticed the gazes directed at Leo. Both guards and passengers were looking at him with a mix of awe and respect. It seemed his brother had made quite a name for himself while he was locked away. That was good.
It was only now that Zeke noticed the many changes to their caravan. For one, the number of carriages seemed to have almost doubled since the first day. They must have picked up the rest along the way. Also, the camels that had originally drawn the wagons were nowhere to be seen anymore. Instead, the carriages were all tied to giant, six-legged lizards.
Those had to be Sandstriders.
Each of the beasts was at least twice Zeke's height. And just by looking at them, he could tell they weighed just as much as the carriages they were pulling. However, their movements were surprisingly agile and their webbed feet made sure they didn't sink in the sand.
Zeke had just finished his second bowl as they reached the front of the caravan. Leo called out to the four figures waiting there. "I am back."
The figures of Jai, Rahul, and the other two Grand Mages turned at once. Zeke noticed the warm smile on the chief's face the moment his eyes fell on Leo. It was as if he was looking at something incredibly precious, like his favorite child… or a mountain of gold.
"Ahh, finally," Jai exclaimed as he noticed Zeke. "We were starting to get worried."
Zeke grinned. "No need. I am perfectly fine, as you can see." However, after a moment, his face turned apologetic. "Your carriage, on the other hand…" He let his words trail off there. In his opinion, the thing would have to be burned. There was no way to ever get rid of the stench of blood now that it had seeped so deeply into the wood.
To his surprise, Jai waved it off like it was no big deal. "No worries, I have more of them. That's not what I called you here for. I think it is time we discussed our plans."
Zeke squinted suspiciously. "…Our plans?"
"Indeed," Jai said. "We are going to reach the capital in about an hour, and I had hoped to take you straight to my brother. However, Keo said he would not make the decision without you."
Zeke exchanged a glance with his brother, who just nodded at him. It was clearly a signal for him to take the lead. "To be trained as fighters?"
"What else?" Jai said with a smirk. "After seeing Keo in action, I am certain he has what it takes to make it big... with the right training. However, he said that he can't make any decisions without at least talking to you first."
He saw a hint of greed flashing past the man's eyes, but Zeke wasn't alarmed by it. He had known from the beginning that Jai and his brother would be making a lot of money off their victories, but Zeke didn't mind it. What really mattered now was how to best go about this.
After a moment of silence, Zeke responded to the unasked question. "Of course, we are going to fulfill our promise." A smile immediately spread across Jai's face, but Zeke wasn't done yet. "But I won't join you right away. I still have business to take care of in the city and will only be able to meet you after a couple of days."
Jai's face darkened, gaining a dangerous edge. He clearly thought that Zeke was trying to go back on his word. However, before the man could give voice to his dissatisfaction, Zeke spoke once more. "Of course, that is only me. Keo will be able to join you right away."
Immediately, the smile was back on the chief's face. It became clear that he placed much more importance on Leo. No wonder. He had seen his brother in action every day, while Zeke was still a mystery to him. It was evident that Jai also didn't put much stock in the new spell he had claimed to be learning.
"Ohh, that's a shame, but I guess it can't be helped," Jai said as if it was a pity. However, to Zeke, it was clear that the man didn't care much if he actually kept his word as long as he got his hands on Leo. "The place is called the Lion's Den. You'll be able to find it without a problem by asking around." With one last nod, he turned back to his discussion with Rahul.
Zeke also motioned for Leo to follow as he made his way to a secluded spot. His brother looked at him dubiously. "We are splitting up?"
Zeke shook his head. "No, I'll be joining you soon. I just don't want us to have our debut in the Rings of Samsara at the same time…"
Leo immediately caught on. "You want to hide our connection?"
Zeke smiled. Leo, despite his honest nature, could be surprisingly shrewd at times. "That's right, and when I eventually join you after a couple of days, you should act like you don't know me."
Leo nodded. "Fine. But is this really okay? We didn't come here to play around, did we?"
Zeke's face grew somber. "That's the other reason I need a few days. I am going to find out as much as I can. Who knows? I might even be able to meet with a member of the Gemkar family directly. But it won't hurt to have a backup plan."
Leo nodded slowly. "I'll see you in a few days, then."
***
With every step, the distant outlines of sandstone walls grew more distinct. And before the sun reached its highest point, they stood in front of a monumental gate.
It was like nothing Zeke had ever seen.
Towering high above them was a colossal, enigmatic stone sculpture. Carved with precision, it featured the body of a reclining creature, part human and part beast, crowned with a regal headdress. Its eyes gazed out towards the horizon, exuding wisdom and mystery. Its powerful paws, intricately etched, added to its grandeur. Bathed in golden sunlight, the statue seemed to guard the city behind it silently.
The actual entrance was between the paws of the creature. Even so, it was wide enough to allow ten carriages to pass side by side, further illustrating the size of the beast. Truth be told, Zeke had never seen any structure as massive as this. It was the height of a small mountain.
How long had it taken to carve something of this size with this level of detail?
Zeke's train of thought was disrupted when he noticed the band of city guards approaching their caravan. The guests were asked to disembark. They would have to make their way into the city on their own merit. However, Zeke was pleasantly surprised as Jai motioned for him and Leo to stay as he went to speak with the leader of the guards.
Zeke couldn't hear their conversation, but the leader glanced in their direction for a moment before nodding his head once. He also hadn't missed how Jai had discretely slipped the man a couple of coins. That could come in handy. After that, Jai returned to the caravan, and they made their way inside without any further obstructions.
The moment Zeke stepped through the giant gate, his mouth dropped open. However, he wasn't the only one who reacted like that. Leo, beside him, looked even more shocked. Even the guards, who must have been here countless numbers of times, had looks of awe and reverence on their faces.
Rahul stepped up beside him with a smug smile on his face. "Welcome to Swarnaloka. The jewel of the desert."