Chapter 277: Chapter 276: Sands Underfoot 2

When Amadan entered the city of sands there was a flute playing. A man whose face was covered in clothing played. Children listened in with cross-legs on the carpet that the musician played. Rahim took Sula with him to the place where the caravans. So many names for one city. It was as odd to a world born out of a combination of the worlds. Some people were stronger than some monsters. It was a world that could survive the hell that Amadan saw in the memories.

“A world like this means that there’s little trouble. Still, if monsters like that are everywhere then there must be a threat stronger than these folks.”

The heart of the world where all the burnt people come from. He also hears the murmurs of a tower that appears out of nowhere and closes at the time of dawn. Hence as he strolls the streets his legs carried him to the artisan shops were those who knew the story of the world. Upon entering this shop he noticed the shelves of books and the strange concoction. There was a man whose jaw was painted red.

“May I help you?” The man noticed. He examined Amadan. “You are new. Then let me this out of the way. This tattoo is part of our culture and that of our dedication to the Way.”

“I get it,” Amadan raised a hand. “I heard that shops like this are used for gaining knowledge.”

He eyed him quizzically. “We sell what we want to sell.”

“Not a good business plan,” Amadan commented.

“Not your problem, stranger.”

“Amadan.”

“And I won’t bother,” he said, “but courtesy, I am Takir, Scriber of this City of Sands.”

“What’s this city’s name anyway.”

“Ah, names, it gives identity. But alas when even the world forgets its names. You will have questions, yes?”

“What do you mean?”

“The world’s full of out of places. I am surprised that a man who wears the cloak of a traveler would bother. Perhaps, you are a traveler of wisdom. But I smell the warrior in you.”

“I am a traveler. A curious one. So what can you tell me about this world?”

“Ah, the world, it is fragmented, wisdom-seeker.”

Amadan listened.

Takir continued, “There are rumors that many parts of the world are different. The soil we find here can be different from the soil there. I find this foolish when different environments and climates result in different properties. But alas in those parts of the world there are materials not found in our world. We are not ignorant of the materials and I believe that this world’s so vast that we had not seen all of it. But when those who are the masters of the arcane fine it so terrifying then it must be the truth.”

“That’s like saying that they have seen everything there is to see. That’s impossible unless they had asked the all-knowing creator.”

“Indeed, but they are astute and they feel differently upon entering these parts. Their magic does not work as fine when they are in the proper world.” He raised two fingers. “Fully and Fragmented. Different arcane systems lie two different magics.”

“So two magic systems when they enter this place. Different from the natural world.”

“Yes, to put it bluntly, the world is a puzzle with many pieces barely fitting in. Like hurried fragments placed together to form such an incomplete world.”

Amadan folded his arms, “Do you have any evidence?”

Takir smiled. “I had none other than the words written by a letter from wise men who is too curious for their good. Tell me, friend, is this all you wanted to hear?”

“The mirage tower. Do you know anything about that?”

He frowned. “Everyone’s talking about the tower of treasures. Foolish that tower is a habitat of monsters that no one has ever seen. Besides, without the proper life form energy - no one can enter through the space that it is protected by.”

“You seem to know this.”

“I know because wise men had told me. Do not think of entering that place if you cannot see it in the first place. That tower filters those who do not crave something out that tower. Not to mention that inside that tower is a pocket of space-separated from this world. You’ll starve to death and that is assuming that the monsters do not kill you, stranger.”

“Adventurers are looking for it. Some must have come here and received the same answer.”

“You are not the only one,” Takir said. “I’d said many times that chasing after a tower such as that is a fool’s folly. If you plan to take on that tower then you need to be suited for it. But, I don’t see that interest in you, friend. You seem to think that the tower is merely a curiosity.”

“If I find it then I will see what’s inside that tower. I doubt that a tower like that will interest me other than it appears out of nowhere and was said to be the tower of the creator.”

“Tower of the creator?” He snorted. “The creator wouldn’t be so foolish to give a pathway to him. As there are floating cities in the far west and the islands carried by colossus beasts. The world’s strange and beautiful at the same time.”

He unfolded a paper. Amadan followed the movement of his fingers. He took a brush, dip it into ink, and wrote runic characters on the paper. Amadan followed Takir’s brush strokes and sensed the tiny bits of energy coming out of his brushes.

“What’s that for?”

“A customary greeting from this shop. It is our way to make it so that you had come here and received this. You will be patronized by scribes and welcomed as a seeker of wisdom.”

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“I didn’t ask for this.”

Takir pointed his palm on the paper. “You are a curious traveler. I believe that the services of my people are going to be useful to you. And we always look for explorers willing to seek out the truth from the tall grasses and the deepest seas.”

Amadan stared at the piece of the parcel. He took it with his right hand. He tucked it inside his bag and leaned on the counter with Takir following his movements. Amadan stared forward and looked Takir in the eye.

“I appreciate this, friend.”

Amadan walked out of the shop. The bright sun welcomed him. The heat from the sun seems to split the roar. The people around the city seem so uncaring when it comes to the sun. He navigated the dense crowds, bumping into shoulders and making sure that his pockets were watched. He arrived on a wooden and sandstone made a building. He entered the inn, looked for Sula, and found her sipping on a tankard.

Rahim ate roasted food pierced by a stick. Amadan came close and twisted on the chair. Sula gave him a sidelong glance and shook her mug slightly. She had this serene expression unworthy of her usual expressions.

“Eaten anything bad?”

“I didn’t. Looks like you are staring at my face too much, Brother,” she smiled. “Perhaps you are in regret now? Do not worry. The blood pack between blood-brother and sisters can be revoked through the consumption of both blood.”

Amadan frowned. “That’s cannibalism isn’t it?”

“How rude,” Sula said. “It is a perfectly acceptable ritual between brothers.”

Amadan arranged himself on the chair. He looked at Rahim who just raised a shoulder and didn’t say anything. The inn had many voices and many individuals or groups were tucked in round tables. The counter of the innkeeper was filled with food. Beer and roasted meat scented the large room. It didn’t help that smoke was coming out from some of the clay pipes.

“Well, okay, so what’s happening?” Amadan asked.

Sula sipped on her drink.

“We’ve sold our good,” Rahim said. “The city had not been able to receive supplies for smoking leaves in months. I’ve amassed quite the fortune with my goods perfectly delivered.”

“Do I get a bonus?” Amadan asked.

“You get paid like usual,” Rahim snatched the bag and placed it on the table. “The rest of your payment will be with me. You will be needing your horse, Walker. I’d bought Sula hers and now it sits on the stable.”

Amadan pushed his fists on the table. “Good, I needed a horse.”

Rahim raised a finger. “It is not a simple horse, friend. It is a horse made for travel. An Errant beast that travels the land. It is the best horse suited for your travels.”

Sula looked at Rahim and snorted. “Rahim talks nonsense. He got the horse for a lesser value than the rest. He had argued that the horse was not an errant beast. If this man didn’t give me the horse as well. I would have exposed his lies. Alas, merchants truly are whisperers of lies.”

“You accepted the horse,” Rahim pointed out. “That is the same as doing the deed. No matter, the horse will serve your purposes well and my load can be increased as well.”

“The man thinks of his profits while hiding behind a curtain of sincerity,” Sula clicked her tongue. “Do not be deceived by the enemy…”

Her face went pale. The mutters and chatter of the Inn stopped before turning into madness. Everyone started running out of the Inn. Rahim shivered madly while Sula’s eyes dilated, her arms shook madly, and she hurried outside as well.

Amadan followed and then saw the streets filled with people. Above the skies where the clear blue skies were once painted was now the color of magma painting the sky. Followed with it was a face filled with hatred. The face of a person who seethes with rage.

The world trembles. Amadan gathered his strength and stared at that hatred incarnate.

“I AM THE BURNT ONE. I’VE AWAKEN AND THIS I SAY TO THE LORDS WHO HAD IMPRISONED ME. YOU’VE TAKEN TWO PRECIOUS THINGS FROM ME. TWO BUDS THAT HAD NO SIN SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE. YOU MOLDED THIS WORLD OUT OF ME. YOU USED ME AND NOW YOU TAKE THEM FROM AND USED THEM AS PILLARS FOR YOUR DECREPIT ORDER.

“I REJECT THIS HEINOUS DESIRE. I REJECT YOU EON-FATHER. I SHALL TRAMPLE ON THE LANDS AND BURNT IT TO ASUNDER. I SHALL NOT BE BULLIED. I WILL HAVE MY CHILDREN BACK. FOR THE CRIMES THIS HEINOUS I SIGN THE DEATH WARRANT OF THE PEOPLE BORN OF THIS WORLD. MY GOLEMS SHALL AWAKE FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY ANGER AND BURN IT ALL INTO ASUNDER. THIS IS THE HATRED OF A MOTHER. KNOW THIS WELL, EON-FATHER.”

The face in the sky seems to burn it. Another face that of a living storm came. The winds shook the landscape and rain fell on the desert.

“YOU DARE CHILD!?”

“I DARE BECAUSE I CAN. YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING. YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TURNED ME INTO THE HEART OF THIS WORLD. LET MY WRATH FILL THE SKY AND THIS WORLD A PARADISE FOR MY CHILDREN. GIVE THEM BACK YOU MONSTER.”

The world trembled at the two images in the sky fighting. Amadan trembled alongside the world. The image on the sky was something beyond imagination. A person who was once a figure that struggled against the overlord of demons now fight a battle beyond Amadan’s imagination.

“Is that her?” Lanon said. His ghostly appearance screams of despair. Old Salvatore appeared with the sigil on his eyes blazing. “That is her alright, no, the one who had become the bane of worlds. Look at her, who would have thought that she’d reach such a height of power. And now she faces even such a being like this all alone.”

“Is that really her?” Amadan asked, almost tearfully. “How do we run away from a person who had become a God?”

“We hide as best as we can,” Old Salvatore said. “She has not found us and it only means that our greater fragment has escaped. I don’t know what our fragment has done. But it seems that for now, we have escaped the greater sight of this woman. Sometimes, I wonder, are we blessed or cursed, to be loved by someone that could wrestle with the being that manages the world.”

Amadan felt the sands underfoot became wet.

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