Chapter 100: Reseph's Agents

As they pressed forward across the desert sands, the group found themselves enveloped by an eerie quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional rush of wind or the faint distant cries of creatures hidden within the dunes. The amulet Haroun had given them hung heavily around James's neck, and despite the endless heat radiating from the desert floor, he could feel a chill emanating from it, as if it held the concentrated whispers of ancient spirits locked in a constant, silent vigil.

The nomads who had shared their wisdom left them at dawn, promising to scout ahead for signs of Resheph's agents or cursed places. They were clearly cautious yet respectful, keeping their distance but providing guidance with gestures and signals. Haroun had promised they would meet again, though James sensed that the nomads valued their secrecy almost as much as they valued the sacredness of their ancestral lands.