The Edge of the Dead World and the Poisoned Air
Location: Southern Border of Elthria – Entrance to the Desert of Dead Sands.
Time: Ten days after leaving the capital.
The colors shifted gradually throughout the journey south. The lush green of the plains faded into a pale yellow, then a dry brown, until they finally reached the edge where the black sands began. They were no ordinary sands; their grains were as fine as powdered glass, gleaming under the scorching sun with a strange, cold luster.
Lirion and his team stood at the edge of the dunes. The air here was heavy, not just from the heat, but from an invisible weight pressing down on their lungs.
[System Alert: Entering "Cursed Lands".]
[Warning: Corrupted mana concentration in the atmosphere: 80%.]
[Effect of Normal Breathing: Consumes 0.1 years of stored mana per hour to neutralize toxins.]
[Recommended: Maintain "Aura Isolation" continuously.]
Lirion pulled small vials from his pack. "Drink this before we step in. Arcane toxin-resistance elixir. It won't protect you completely, but it will slow the degradation."
The team drank the bitter liquid. A slight burning sensation hit their throats, followed by a cooling wave that spread through their bodies.
"How much time do we have?" Garek asked, inspecting his sword. The black sand was already clinging to the blade as if magnetized.
"Three days to reach the temple, three to return," Lirion estimated. "If we stay longer, the corrupted mana will begin to calcify your arteries."
Lirion glanced at his chest. The Stone was pulsing rapidly—not from fear, but from longing. The Third Shard was close, and it was calling out to its kin within him.
"Remember," Lirion said, taking the first step onto the black sands. "Do not use magic unless absolutely necessary. The mana here is polluted. Drawing it directly could permanently corrupt your circuits."
"And what if we're attacked?" Elara asked.
"Rely only on your internal reserves," Lirion replied. "And don't trust the shadows. The sands here have eyes."
They began to walk. With every step, the world grew quieter. No birds. No insects. Only the sound of glass-like sand grinding against itself. On the horizon, the ruins of a colossal pyramid loomed, half-buried, seeming to warp the reality around it.