Chapter 1
Eldoria, a continent of diversity and prosperity; its jungles, a marvel of nature and ingenuity's capacity to be in harmony. The land was forged by the afterglow of a fierce war waged between the many races of dragons and humans. When the smoke cleared, they say that humans and virtuous dragons settled their differences with ease, and peace blossomed immediately. But for every thriving city of stone and gold, and each mystery buried in the desert of Nagdar, one facet of the land's history is forgotten and torn from the records. However, such lofty ambitions never truly phased me. Kasheen was a noble enough name to be given at birth, and I was content with it. I had no room to complain, after all, for I doubted that my parents would rename me from their graves. Regardless, my life within the desert of Nagdar had been one of monotony and normalcy for the most part. As I woke up to another day of the boiling sun beating down upon the sands of the dunes, I let out a yawn. "Another day, another bounty...and another mosquito parade." I laughed, the struggles of life in Nagdar having become a source of amusement for me. I slid off my bed and stepped out into the searing heat of the desert, a sigh escaped me. I looked around to see familiar sights; the houses were airy and spacious to spread the heat thinner, the date trees were fruitful in time for the peak of summer, and conversations lined the streets of the residential area and bazaar like strays to scraps of food.
"Well, well. How nice of you to finally join us this morning, Kasheen! Just as well, the afternoon is fast approaching, boy!" A familiar voice called out from the bazaar. I knew it too well, the masculine, bold leader of our quaint desert village, Telkhan. Though we were hardly the most hunting-savvy village around, Telkhan was a one-man legend, having slain countless monsters with very little sustenance. I smiled humbly and waved. Being called out by the village leader himself was more than a wake-up call. "Oh, hehe...sorry about that, chief. I was sleeping well, I guess. You always say that a good rest is the best helping hand for a day of hunting!" I chuckled sheepishly, damn well knowing that I was grasping at both straws, and perhaps Telkhan's fleeting free time.
"Don't worry too much about it. What matters is that you're awake now, and that I actually have a job for you. But, I ask that you head to my home and seek out my wife, she has the details. I'll be near the desert border if you need me, Kasheen. Until then..." Telkhan began walking out of the village. My mind began racing with thoughts. An actual job? Was I going to get my chance to help the village? I was overjoyed, yet also cautious. Telkhan wouldn't be present to save me if I messed up, and as much as I was excited about helping the village, it was a huge burden to bear. Nonetheless, I set off for the largest house in the village, the abode of Telkhan and his family.
I stood before the house, the porch alone being lined with enough cacti and plants to fill out a jungle. I entered the lavish building with a hint of trepidation in each step. After all, Telkhan and his wife had hardly been gifted such a wonderful home for themselves and their children, it was the result of years of hardships and battles. The very idea of knocking anything over was a dagger to my heart, yet I pressed on into the main room.
"Hello? Ah, there you are...Telkhan told me that I could come to you for some details on...a task I can perform. Is that...true?" I asked meekly, all my confidence and familiarity seeming to vanish in the confines of Telkhan's house. However, the comfort of the village leader's humour and strength was naught compared to the woman before me. Shameera, often referred to as the mother of the village, was on the floor with her four children. Two girls, and two boys, a normal family structure, yet I was in awe. Such an important and wealthy woman compared to the rest of the village, but she still retained the heart to nurture her own children, to be on the floor playing with them. Shameera stood tall, a child on each arm as she offered a reassuring smile.
"Come now, there is no need to be nervous. Telkhan has told me much about you, Kasheen...all positive, fret not. I am Shameera, his wife, and I have quite a few things to tell you. While my husband ventures out to the desert border to hunt, you will be taking on a task in his stead. You must walk out of the village and head past the Serpent Caves. Continue on over the river which shall rage in your presence, and don't stop until you come to an area in which the sun itself avoids and the shadows fester upon. There, your task will become clear...any questions?" She stifled a giggle at my evidently hesitant reaction. Still, how was I meant to react. The very man I had looked up to since birth, Telkhan, had arranged for me to take on a task with little to no instruction or guidance. Despite my fear and anxiety, I managed a small, meagre smile.
"Thanks for the insight, Miss Shameera...but is this safe? I mean, the desert is dangerous, you always tell the children that...and I'm meant to just walk in a straight line to a part of the desert that the sun stays away from?" I shivered as the details of my task replayed in my head. Shameera laughed once more. It was often remarked by other residents of the village that her laugh could cure one's fear, yet now, it was tinged with more wistful undertones.
"My child...you were not given this task because Telkhan wishes to see you dead. You did not wake up today because you thought it was time for you to wake up. Nor did the sun rise because it was tradition. The Universe works in mysterious ways...and this sort of opportunity comes by only a few times per century. That's what I believe...have faith, and you shall be safe, Kasheen. Go on now...it's lunch time for my dear children." Shameera smiled, before turning back to her children and preparing their food.
As soon as I left the house of Telkhan and his family, my hand instinctively flew up to my eyes. A sandstorm had kicked up.
"Gah! Great, a sandstorm?! The sage said we weren't due for one in another week! Hngh...huh?" I groaned in annoyance, yet my curiosity was piqued beyond what it had ever been pushed to before. Amidst the swirling sands, a thin streak of land seemed to repel the onslaught of the desert. I rapidly recalled Shameera's instruction in my head, each of her words playing back to me a dozen times over. Beyond this opening of the sandstorm was the path to the Serpent Caves. I gritted my teeth as the specks of sand dug into my skin, but I began walking upon the cleared path. My mind was in complete bewilderment as I trudged on. Sand passed over my head, and it ran like a river on either side of me, yet it was perfectly forming around the path. I shook my head, believing there to be some logic to what I was experiencing.
"Let's see...if I walk down this path, I'll have followed Shameera's instructions exactly...the Universe works in mysterious ways, huh? I'd classify this as...a fair bit more than mysterious." I chuckle, looking up at the streams of sand around me with an unnerving sense of normalcy. I stifled my doubts about this all being a dream as I pressed onwards, the boiling sun beating down upon me as it reached the very top of the sky.
