Chapter 11: Out of the ruins and into the Desert

Kyle had almost lost hope. But she had to stay strong. The monster kept on coming. Everyone was exhausted.

She slashed at the monster in front of her and swiftly rolled to dodge its strike, then stabbed its neck from behind and jumping back to avoid another strike.

Another one attacked from her left and she was having a hard time dodging. Her legs were tired and she could barely move properly.

As she dodged another attack Ray appeared behind her and blocked its axe, startling them. Taking advantage of the distraction, she thrust her dagger into the creature's heart, killing it.

She was barely standing up with the support of her daggers. Matt was also heavily injured. Lily was crouching, completely worn out and Tidlen was almost out of mana, barely casting a light spell.

Ray was also tired. He could barely stand. But he had achieved his goal.

"I finally have enough." He muttered.

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed. All the monsters that had been attacking, went still. Shaking in uncontrollably, not daring to look up.

 Their forms which could not be distinguished before, became visible. Each of them was different and weird. Anyone would be shocked at their appearance. But…

The monsters were not the only ones affected. Kyle slowly looked up in fear. Ray's eyes glowed blue, his horns, which had become visible looked as dark as the night, he was barely standing upright. Yet everyone felt afraid, an instinctual fear.

Matt, who was hardly awake, Lily who was crouching and Tidlen barely keeping a flame light, all of them also froze. It was presence, just pure presence. It was not directed at them, even so they felt absolute fear.

The monsters, under his presence all bowed, crouching. Many were already unconscious. Looking at them, Ray slowly focused, as a short humanoid figure, with a cut eye, doglike ears, pointed face and a buff body that in no way matched his appearance walked to the front, still bowing deeply.

"Guide us out."

Ray said, his voice low. But in that silence, the short figure, shakingly glanced, before bowing again and turned and looked at them again, as if truly guiding them.

Then his presence weakened as he turned.

"Tidlen, please support me. Everyone, lets follow it."

Everybody listened, after all they had no other option and they were all shaken by his presence.

They all slowly walked behind the short figure. Kyle and Lily supported Matt, while Tidlen carried Ray on his back. After he was the least physically exhausted one and his mana was slowly returning.

They walked for what seemed for hours. They were all getting anxious. The monsters which had been previously shaking, were also starting to follow them.

Finally, the short figure stopped. It turned and raised its hand, then turned again, and slowly walked front towards a wall.

It touched the wall and then a magic circle appeared. After which the wall lowered revealing a desert outside. Seeing freedom, they finally walked out of the ruins.

Turning back one last time to look at the humanoid creature all gathered at the exit looking at them intently, before closing the wall once more, they felt all their strength leave them. Everybody was both physically and mentally exhausted.

Tidlen, who had recovered a part of his mana, cast a powerful healing spell on Matt, using up all his recovered mana. Colour retuned to Matt's face and seeing that they all immediately fell asleep.

It was Tidlen who woke up first. It was burning hot. All he could see as he looked about was sand.

The others also woke not long after. Ray was the last to get up. He looked around in a daze. All of them were confused. They did not know how long they had slept nor where they were.

The first to break the silence was Matt.

"What happened? Where are we? I was fighting those weird creatures…"

It was lily who answered his question.

"I am also not sure. All I remember was that after Ray made that short monster to guide us out… we ended up here."

"Well, at least we are back on the surface. Cheer up guys we escaped that place alive. Let's see what to do next.

Tidlen, can you use water magic now?"

"Huh? Let me try…"

Tidlen who was snapped out of his confusion, lifted his hand and mana circle appeared just as a small stream of water, started to flow out of hand.

Seeing the water, everyone perked up and filled their bottles.

They had magic now. They situation already looked much better than before. Feeling his magic working properly, Tidlen immediately started to heal Matt, who was still having trouble walking.

"Guys, I think I know where we are."

It was Ray. He had not spoken until now. He still looked completely dazed.

The other weren't sure what to respond. After what they had witnessed, they were still shaken.

"Where? And how can you tell?''

Kyle once again to the initiative.

"Come here, look at that dead lizard? It has a unique pattern around its neck. These are only found in the deserts of Cursed haven."

Looking at the lifeless husk of a lizard with wavy brown pattern on its neck, Lily

"Then, have any idea which direction to go?''

Asked as she looked at what vast expanse of sand and rocks.