It was a terrible day to be a demigod, or at least that's how Merlian felt. There, in the eye of the hurricane, surrounded by gigantic clouds of sand swirling at high speed, she rested lying on a dune, her body face down. The sun was unusually bright that day, ruining the almost nonexistent tranquility she could have. Even so, with the muffled screams from the strong winds and her skin burning in the sand, she wanted to sleep.
«But this isn't the time to rest...» She thought slowly. She knew she had to get up, but it was difficult. It had been a while since she had rested.
She tried to use the Transfer to improve her physical state. In vain, of course, since she had already materialized her domain. In fact, was lying in it. It was rare for her to forget, but even thinking was exhausting. Although reason told her to get up, a large part of her just wanted to stay there. To be able to sleep in the sand, pretending that nothing bad was happening. That her life still had meaning.
—Wake her up! —shouted a voice, «Maybe Saudro» She thought.
She heard footsteps with a slow rhythm; the terrain made it difficult to move. Someone grabbed her by the shoulders and lifted her body toward the sky. Her friend Kaely shook her with a worried look.
—Whoever I touch will be lighter! —She said with power in her voice. Merlian felt lighter all of a sudden, which snapped her out of her stupor. She got up with Kaely's help and looked around.
There was sand everywhere she looked. The large clouds of dust seemed like walls, and she felt trapped among them. She laughed to hide her exasperation. It was the first time she felt strange in her own domain.
—Merly, Lun isn't waking up! —Kaely shouted with a lament she rarely heard—. He used the staff!
Merlian turned to her companions. Saudro was kneeling in the sand while holding Lunhdre, who had an expression of impossible calm for the situation. Merlian envied him.
—Those who sleep will wake up! —shouted Saudro, who fell asleep instantly. But even breaking his law couldn't wake the Emperor of Luck. That's how strong the ancient artifact seemed to be.
«No.» Merlian told herself with unexpected clarity. «The staff and its counter-effect were strong, but not that strong. It must have been amplified.»
Then, with a rage that fully awakened her, she fixed her gaze upward. The others were already doing so. In the blue sky, a canoe was flying through the air, circling above them. A figure stood on it, looking at the dunes.
—Essau... —She said with a growl uncharacteristic of her.
The reason they were there. A traitor. A heartless man, Setracsed.
—Auste! —shouted Otum, Emperor of Tracking. His voice echoed throughout the area, not even the strong winds could silence the fury of an Emperor. —Even if that suit takes you to the other side of the world, I will find you and kill you!
Meanwhile, the man with many names remained silent. His expression a mystery behind the mask he wore. Slowly, he raised his left hand, which held a large hourglass.
Merlian knew it was time, and she turned to look at her allies. Out of so many who had accompanied them, only eight were left. The fate of the others was uncertain. A glimmer caught her eye as she lowered her head. The compass in her bag reflected the sunlight as the needle spun.
Including her, only four could confront Setracsed. Otum wasn't trustworthy, and Lunhde had fallen into a coma. Only she and Auryn remained.
—Auryn... —She felt a weight as she looked at the woman, for there were no traces of emotion left in her eyes. Of all those present, she was the most affected by the situation.
The rage inside Merlian grew, and she looked up. The hourglass in the man's hand began to glow. Then the winds swept the sand more forcefully, and the clouds closed in, ready to devour everything.
The man remained in the canoe, relaxed. Merlian wished she could rip off his mask to see his face. She wondered if his calm was another lie, or if he was about to challenge the Laws with tranquility, as if he were about to have a snack. The man lowered his head, difficult to see because of the light. Merlian felt him looking at her. Perhaps it was his way of challenging her, as was customary for him.
«Ignor... Fardes di esturet.... Langüan...»
As the light grew stronger, Merlian heard the Ancient Whispers. She ignored them and focused on Setracsed. Seeing him so pristine revitalized her. She decided that there was still something worth living for. To thwart the plans of the traitor she had called a friend and to save humanity.