The Relay Station's Message
The group stood in the boundless desert under a sun that scorched like molten iron. Sand whipped through the air, blurring vision. In the distance, massive pyramids rose from the dunes, radiating an ancient, mysterious aura.
Fa gripped the Inheritor's Stone tightly. The runes on its surface glowed faintly, pointing northeast.
Arya unfolded a pale-blue magical barrier, shielding everyone from the worst of the heat. "We need water and food first," she said, her voice thin against the howling wind. "Otherwise we won't last long in this desert."
"This damned place is hotter than a forge!" TISK nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. Beneath his goggles, his eyes narrowed to slits. He adjusted the cooling unit at his waist; it hummed softly.
Salsa leapt down from Fa's shoulder, her mechanical paws leaving tiny prints in the sand. "I smell a trace of magic in the air. Very faint."
Fa took a deep breath to calm the anxiety in his chest. "We'll head to the relay station first—rest, and gather information."
They marched toward the indicated direction, sand crunching beneath their boots. Suddenly Salsa's ears shot up and she let out a low warning growl. "Something's moving underground!"
Before anyone could react, the sand ahead exploded. Three mechanical sand scorpions burst forth, their metallic shells gleaming, tail stingers glowing with eerie purple light—clearly magically enhanced constructs.
"Battle stations!" Fa shouted, drawing his short blade.
TISK roared and swung his warhammer. One scorpion shattered into flying parts with a single blow. Arya's magic arrows struck another's joints, paralyzing it. Fa dodged nimbly and plunged his blade into the third scorpion's energy core.
"These aren't natural," Salsa said, examining the wreckage. "They carry traces of magic."
Fa crouched, his starlit eyes glowing faintly. "We need to stay sharp."
After this skirmish they pressed on with heightened vigilance. Hours later, an ancient relay station built of massive stone blocks appeared ahead. Strange runes covered its outer walls—half eroded by wind and sand, half glowing with faint technological light from energy conduits embedded in the cracks.
Merchants and travelers from various regions gathered around the station, their clothing a patchwork of cultures.
Inside, a welcome coolness greeted them. Wooden tables stood scattered about, maps and notices hung on the walls. An old man in a long robe sat in the corner, eyes closed, holding a staff carved with runes.
Fa approached respectfully. "Sir, do you know of any special places nearby? We're looking for someone."
The elder opened his eyes slowly, gaze sharp as it swept over the group. "Who are you? And why do you seek that place?"
Fa hesitated, then chose honesty. "We're adventurers from Green Day Town, searching for an Inheritor."
The elder pondered a moment. "Never heard of an Inheritor, but deep in the desert lies a hidden oasis where the 'Sage of Sand' dwells. He commands earth magic and can control sandstorms and winds."
"A hidden oasis?" TISK frowned. "Sounds hard to find."
The elder smiled. "Indeed. But if fate favors you, you will find him."
Fa bowed gratefully. "Thank you for your guidance."
The elder waved a hand. "No need for thanks. Just beware—the desert holds more than natural disasters, sand bandits, and regenerating monsters than you can imagine."
TISK patted his hammer. "Let them come. My hammer's itching to crush something."
The group left the station and continued toward the direction indicated by the Inheritor's Stone. The journey grew harsher. The blazing sun warped the horizon; they took turns activating cooling devices to stay alive. Salsa often climbed dunes to scout.
"Northeast—strong energy fluctuation," Salsa reported, leaping down from a dune top. "But multiple hostile life signs too."
Fa nodded, star-eyes flickering. "I feel them. We'll go around."
Yet danger in the desert could not be fully avoided. When night fell and temperatures plummeted, sand bandits struck under cover of darkness. They rode modified sand bikes etched with magic-absorbing runes.
"Hand over your gear and supplies!" their leader bellowed, energy rifle glowing.
TISK roared, slammed his hammer into the ground, and sent a shockwave that flipped the front five bikes. Arya unleashed blinding light magic. Fa ghosted between enemies, disabling bike cores with precise strikes. Salsa summoned dozens of skeleton warriors to swarm the bandits.
When the fight ended, Salsa examined the wreckage. "These aren't ordinary bandits. Their equipment is too advanced—someone sent them to stop us."
Fa's star-eyes darkened with worry. "Our enemies already know we're coming."
The next day at noon, they finally reached the oasis the elder had mentioned.
"We're here!" Salsa said excitedly. "I can smell water and plants!"
But as they approached, a transparent magical barrier shimmered around the oasis, covered in flowing runes of immense power.
"What is this?" Arya asked in surprise.
Fa reached out; a gentle force pushed him back. "We need to break it to enter."
TISK scowled. "None of us are magic experts. Now what?"
Salsa hopped down and studied the runes. "Maybe I can try. I learned some magic in the old castle."
She closed her eyes, concentrated, and began chanting. Blue light radiated from her body, resonating with the barrier. The runes flickered, then faded.
"Got it!" Salsa cheered.
Fa smiled and rubbed her head. "Good job, Salsa."
They stepped through. Inside, lush trees shaded a clear spring-fed lake. Beside the lake stood a structure of sand-colored stone and metal, its surface covered in runes and mechanical diagrams.
"Is this the Sage of Sand's home?" Arya marveled.
A tall lizardman in robes emerged from the building. He wore a wide-brimmed hat and carried a gem-topped staff. His eyes were deep and wise.
"You are the bearer of the Star Eyes," he said. "I am Saladin, Sage of Sand. I have waited long for you."
Fa stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Sage Saladin, I am the bearer of the Star Eyes. I have come to undertake your trial."
Saladin nodded. "Very well. You must pass three trials. They will not be easy. You must prove yourselves worthy of the inheritance."
"What are the three trials?" Fa asked.
The First Trial
Saladin waved his staff. Sand gathered in the oasis center, forming a giant hourglass. "The first trial: within three days, solve the hourglass's riddle, find the three hidden magic stones in the desert, and bring them back. Only then will you pass the first gate."
The group exchanged glances, aware of the difficulty ahead, but their eyes burned with determination.
"We accept the challenge," Fa declared.
Saladin smiled. "Good. The trial begins now. Take this guiding stone. Remember—time is limited. You must finish before the sand runs out."
As he spoke, the hourglass began to flow. The party immediately set out at once to find the first magic stone.
The First Magic Stone
Following Saladin's guiding stone, they headed toward the first stone's location. The wind grew fiercer; they advanced carefully.
After a grueling march they reached an enormous dune with a massive boulder etched in ancient runes that pulsed faintly with magic.
"Is this it?" Arya asked.
Fa nodded. "We have to solve the rune puzzle."
They studied the intricate patterns that seemed to tell an ancient story.
Salsa closed her eyes, sensing the flow of magic. A vision flashed in her mind: people circling the boulder, chanting.
"I understand," she said, opening her eyes. "We must recreate the ritual."
Following her instructions, they positioned themselves around the dune and chanted in the order shown by the runes. The stone glowed; sand slid away, revealing a blue-glowing magic stone.
"We did it!" TISK roared.
Fa carefully took the stone, feeling its immense power. "Two more. We have to hurry."
The Second Magic Stone
Night fell; the desert turned bitterly cold. They camped in a hollow, lit a small fire, and rested briefly.
Early next morning they followed Salsa's sensed fluctuations. Quicksand pits and shifting dunes tested them constantly. TISK nearly got swallowed by quicksand; Arya pulled him out with rope.
They reached a flat golden-sand area. In the center stood a small stele covered in even more complex runes.
"This might be a trap," Arya warned.
Salsa analyzed carefully. "Some runes are decoys. Only the correct sequence activates the real mechanism."
Under her guidance they chanted and positioned themselves again. The ground rumbled; sand parted, revealing a hidden underground entrance.
But mechanical sandworms burst out, jaws dripping acid.
"Looks like the trial isn't over!" Fa drew his blade. "Fight!"
After a fierce battle they descended into a dark passage lined with glowing runes. At the end, on a round platform, hovered the second blue magic stone—protected by a barrier. Sand golems rose around it.
Another fierce fight ensued. While TISK and Arya held off the golems, Salsa and Fa dismantled the barrier. At the last moment Fa seized the stone; the golems crumbled into sand.
"We did it!" Arya exhaled.
Fa clutched the second stone. "One more to go."
Omen of the Storm
After obtaining the second stone, the tunnel collapsed behind them, but they pressed on. The guiding stone pointed farther north.
They found a small oasis to refill water. While resting, Fa noticed a dark shadow on the horizon.
"That's no ordinary cloud," he said.
Salsa's pupils narrowed. "There's unnatural magic mixed in that storm."
"We need shelter before it hits," Fa said.
The Storm Descends
The sky darkened rapidly; wind screamed. Sand rose in walls that blocked all vision.
"We'll get buried alive!" TISK shouted.
The guiding stone flashed, pointing to a cluster of massive boulders nearby. They fought their way there and squeezed into a narrow crevice just as the storm broke.
The tempest raged all night—sand blotting out moon and stars, wind howling like demons. Salsa pressed against Fa. "This storm is being controlled. The magic is too strong to be natural."
Dawn finally came. The desert had been reshaped; old landmarks gone.
"Great, now we're completely lost," TISK grumbled.
Fa raised the guiding stone. Its runes still pointed north, steady and true.
"We still have this," he said. "As long as we follow it, we won't lose our way."