The city for those in need

As the group trudged through the scorching desert, the relentless wind hit their skin and sapped their energy. Suomi was the first one to collapse, her legs giving out beneath her as she stumbled to the ground. Rufus, ever the determined leader, scooped her up in his arms and continued, determined not to let her slow them down.

But Zara was not far behind, her complaints growing louder with every step. "Please, can I get some help?" she pleaded, her voice hoarse with exhaustion. Pema was just about to go and help her when Rufus halted him.

"No, do not help her. This is just what we need," Rufus said, his voice firm and unyielding.

"Why not? I am dying over here," Zara cried, tears streaming down her face.

"Rufus, I love your new pushy attitude, but I'm sure we need Zara alive to enter the city of secrets," Edward pointed out, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

But Rufus had a plan. "Don't worry guys. I know what I am doing. Zara is a djinn, and as she also described it, the city of secrets will not allow any djinn to die on their continent. We just have to push her to her limits, just like on a pilgrimage," he explained.

The group looked at Rufus with confusion and uncertainty. They knew that he had a plan, but they couldn't quite understand what it was. Doreen, her voice filled with concern, spoke up, "Rufus, I understand that you want to push us to our limits, but this is extreme. Zara is clearly struggling and it's not fair to put her through this."

But Rufus was determined, and he pushed them forward, evermore pushing Zara to her limits. As they journeyed on, the group could see that Zara was reaching her breaking point. Her movements were slow and labored, and her face was etched with pain and exhaustion. But Rufus kept pushing her, not allowing anyone to help her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Zara collapsed.

"Way the go Rufus. She is now completely exhausted and near death," Edward said who went to inspect the collapsed djinn.

Rufus for a second thought had done a mistake and understood the hints of the selquk sassanids wrong, but then things started to happen.

The earth shook like an earthquake was happening. The sandstorm subsided, and the group could finally see the sunlight after many days. What they then saw was miraculous. A single massive mountain, carved and shaped into towering spires and grand buildings were right in front of their eyes.

A massive wall was around the city with an iron gate in the front, that had carvings of beasts of many kinds. The mountain was moving ever so slightly, though its massive size, and was hovering above the earth.

"Is that...?" Doreen said in awe.

"I believe that is the city of secrets. Based on the clues the selquk sassanids said, I understood the point of this desert and sandstorm. The city itself is a flying fortress that hovers just above the earth, being hidden from the sky and always moving, making sure no unwanted finds it ever.

"It will then reveal itself to those djinns that truly need it. For those pilgrims that have faith, that they will reach the city of secrets. Zara's collapse was the trigger for the city to reveal itself to us," Rufus said, looking at Zara with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The group rushed to Zara's side, and she slowly started to regain consciousness. "I...I did it," she said, her voice filled with wonder and amazement.

But their triumph was short-lived as a blue smog emerged from the city, flying over the sky and coming towards them like a falling meteor. It enveloped Zara and lifted her away, beyond the walls of the city of secrets. Rufus summoned his divine wings and flew after her, but a rock came forth from behind the wall, flying at him and hitting him hard.

Rufus was dazed, his wings faltering as he fell to the ground. The rest of the group rushed to his side, worried about his injuries.

"Are you okay? What happened?" Doreen asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I'm fine," Rufus said, groaning as he got back to his feet. "But I think we have been disqualified from entering the city."

The group looked at him with confusion and uncertainty. "What do you mean?" Amala asked.

"The city is only for djinns. We have been barred from entering," Liana said who had figured it out as well.