Chapter 1 Stranded in the Wasteland

The sun hung mercilessly above the endless stretch of sand. A girl lay on the burning ground, her pale face streaked with sweat. Every shallow breath felt like inhaling fire, and the faintest breeze only brought waves of searing heat. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, revealing a pair of mismatched irises—one a shimmering silver, the other a deep emerald.

Sand stretched endlessly before her. Miles upon miles of barren, golden dunes rolled into the horizon, broken only by the distorted shimmer of heat waves. Her lips parted to whisper, but her voice cracked.

"Where… am I? Wasn't I just fighting… Gre—?"

Her memory was a fog of chaos—flashes of battle, the crackle of magic, and then a blinding light.

Groaning, she forced herself to her feet, though her legs wobbled like jelly. Every step was a struggle; her boots sank deep into the soft sand, and each movement drained her further. Her throat burned with thirst, her mouth was parched, and her vision wavered with the heat.

This isn't good, she thought grimly. She had heard of places like this—places where the sands stretched on forever, devouring travelers foolish enough to cross their borders. The Wastelands.

Her breath hitched. "I can't die here," she muttered. She tried to summon water magic, but her mana was drained, her "gate" still recovering from the battle. Frustration and fear mixed in her chest. I'll just keep walking…

Before long, her body betrayed her. Her legs buckled, and she crumpled to the sand. Her last coherent thought before unconsciousness took her was simple yet chilling: Am I dying?

Part 2

A sudden splash of icy water shocked her awake.

"Ahhh! That's so cold!" she yelped, scrambling back.

Before her stood a figure cloaked in thick, desert-ready garments. Goggles that glinted faintly in the sun hid the strangers eyes, and their entire body was wrapped in layers of cloth. The figure carried a belt laden with tools: a sword, coiled rope, and various pouches.

The stranger tilted their head. "—XXX—XX," "... " said in a language Luna didn't understand.

Her confusion must have been obvious because the figure paused, then switched languages. "Ah, you do not speak Kyoei?" The voice was masculine, young but steady.

Luna blinked. "No, I don't. I speak Deity."

The boy nodded. "I see. Then I shall speak in Deity. What I said earlier was: 'You'll dry up in no time, so don't look so disappointed.'"

Luna scowled, her soaked hair plastered to her face. She must have looked like a drenched cat, pitiful and annoyed. 

I just don't like being wet. She thought.

Despite herself, she dropped to her knees and bowed her head. "Thank you for saving me. I owe you my life. Please, let me repay you however I can."

The boy smiled faintly, his expression hidden beneath his goggles. "I didn't save you for a reward. My name is Isaiah. What's yours?"

"Luna," she said softly. "Just Luna. I don't… know my family name."

His expression turned serious. "Luna, what are you doing here? Do you have any idea how dangerous this place is? We're in the heart of the Wastelands."

Her stomach dropped. So, it's true. I really am in the Wastelands.

Before she could answer, Isaiah's voice grew sharp with alarm. "Your eye… it's bleeding!"

"My eye?" Luna raised a trembling hand to her right eye. The world looked… wrong, as though the right side of her vision had vanished entirely. When she pressed her hand closer, there was no sensation.

"I can't see," she whispered. Panic rose in her chest, but Isaiah thrust a pair of goggles into her hands.

"Put these on. Now."

The moment she did, her vision shifted. The goggles were enchanted, transforming the desert into shades of green and black, like night vision.

"It's inflicted with a spell that enhances your vision and it helps protect your eyes from the sand." 

Isaiah didn't wait for her questions. Instead, he pulled a small, peculiar flute from his belt and blew into it. No sound reached Luna's ears, but his expression relaxed, satisfied.

"Is it working?" she asked hesitantly.

"Oh, it's working," he replied, his tone almost playful.

In the distance, a sandstorm appeared, a massive cloud of swirling dust and wind. Luna's stomach twisted with unease. Why does he look so calm?

The storm barreled closer with terrifying speed. Isaiah stood rooted in place, his gaze fixed on the approaching chaos.

"Don't we need to move or something?" Luna asked, her voice tinged with panic.

He didn't answer.

When the storm was only meters away, Luna had had enough. This guy is crazy! She turned to run, but before she could take a step, Isaiah grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the storm.

"Wait! What are you—?"

The world spun as she was dragged into the roaring sandstorm. Her screams died in her throat as the chaos consumed them.

Luna blinked and found herself gripping Isaiah's waist. Beneath them, the ground… moved.

She squinted through the goggles and gasped. A snake like creature, its body shimmering like glass, writhed beneath them.

"A… sand snake?!" she stammered.

Isaiah grinned. "Impressive, isn't it? Hold on tight!"

The snake's massive scales glittered in the faint light, each one harder than diamond. Its head remained submerged beneath the sand, cutting through the dunes like water.

"Jump!" Isaiah shouted suddenly.

"Jump?! Are you insane—?"

Before she could finish, Isaiah grabbed her and leapt from the creature's back. They landed with a soft thud in the sand as the sand snake disappeared into the distance.

The village they arrived at was a surreal sight. The walls were constructed from enormous ribs, likely from a creature as massive as the sand snakes. Houses were carved from stone, their entrances draped with colorful cloth. In the center of the settlement was a sparkling oasis, its water impossibly clear.

"Welcome to my home," Isaiah said simply.

Luna's gaze lingered on a small shrine at the edge of the village, its design reminiscent of a Japanese torii.

"You're religious?" she asked curiously. Religions are a big relevant in this world, there is a lot of discrimination and some people are not allowed in some places because of their beliefs.

There are three main religions.

Kami, the belief of one and only god.

Yomi, the belief of the absence of a god.

And last Maho, is the belief that for every magic element there is a god and it has his own authority over that specific element.

"Most of us believe in Maho," Isaiah explained.

Luna hesitated. "I'm Kami. Is that… a problem?"

He smiled. "Not here. You're safe."

Exhausted, Luna allowed herself to be led to a small house. Isaiah's voice was soft as he bid her goodnight. "Rest now. We'll talk more in the morning."

The morning sun bathed the desert village in a golden hue. Inside a modest hut, an elderly man with a long, flowing goatee worked intently, his hands glowing faintly with healing magic. He focused on Luna's injured eye while Isaiah watched from nearby, arms crossed, concern etched into his face.

The old man let out a heavy sigh and straightened up. "I've done all I can," he said. "The eyes was infected, so I used Detoxification magic and it is completely gone, but restoring vision is beyond what we healers are capable of. Once it's lost, it's lost."

Isaiah frowned. "So, there's no way?"

The healer shook his head solemnly. "No. We can reattach lost limbs if the severed part is recovered, but even then, rehabilitation is required to regain full functionality. Eyes, however… they're a different matter entirely."

Luna sat quietly on the mat, her hands resting in her lap as she listened. The healer smiled gently. "Still, the wound is fully healed now. It won't cause you any further pain or complications."

Luna gave him a grateful nod. "Thank you," she murmured softly.

Later, as they walked outside through the village's sandy paths, the relentless desert heat bore down on them. Luna looked visibly drained, her pace slowing with every step.

I am dying… why is it so hot. As she thought that her gaze shifted over to Isaiah.

His bangs fall lightly across his forehead, parting subtly in the middle, while the rest of his brown/ black hair curves gently around the sides of his head, tapering slightly near his neck. His kind looking eyes colored a blue as the sky.

"How are you not dying in this heat with those clothes?" Luna asked Isaiah, her voice tinged with frustration. She gestured toward his long robes, which looked anything but breathable.

Isaiah chuckled, tapping the fabric. "These clothes are enchanted with a cooling spell. Keeps the heat out and the sweat away."

Luna groaned and wiped her forehead. "Lucky you. I feel like I'm going to melt!" she grumbled. "I need that spell on my clothes, or I won't survive!"

Isaiah raised an eyebrow at her. "Luna, you can use magic, right?"

"Of course," she said, though her voice faltered slightly. "Everyone can use it once they've learned how."

"Then why not just conjure some water for yourself?" he asked, puzzled.

Luna hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. Should I tell him? she thought. He doesn't seem like a bad guy. He saved my life, after all. But… I still don't fully trust him.

After a moment's pause, she sighed. "It's a long story. I was in a fight with the Demon of Greed. That's how I lost my eye. There was a huge flash of light, and then… I woke up here. I think I got teleported, but I'm not really sure."

"And your mana?" Isaiah asked.

"All drained," she admitted. "Completely wiped out from the battle."

Isaiah tilted his head thoughtfully. "Why not borrow mana from the spirits? That's what most mages do in emergencies."

Luna's gaze dropped to the ground. "I… can't," she said quietly. "I have a curse that prevents me from forming contracts with mana spirits."

Isaiah looked taken aback. "Oh, I'm sorry. That must be really difficult."

"It is what it is," Luna replied with a small shrug.

Isaiah's eyes scanned her from head to toe. "Wait, you don't have a wand either? Did you lose it during the battle?"

Luna blinked at him, confused. "A wand? I've never used one for magic."

Isaiah's jaw dropped. "You're telling me you can cast magic without a wand, without mana spirits, and without a mana crystal?! You're something special!"

Special? Back at Yatsu's mansion everyone expect Itsuki used magic without a wand.

"I am sure if you try your best, you can do it." She replied.

Isaiah's shock turned to envy. "That's incredible! I've never heard of anyone doing that. Please, you've got to teach me how!" He questioned eagerly.

Teach him? Luna thought, biting her lip. Everyone back at Yastu's mansion could do that. How is it special? But… maybe he could be useful later.

She let out a soft sigh, feigning reluctance. "Fine. But I'll warn you now—I'm a really strict teacher." She punctuated her statement with a playful wink.

As they neared the edge of the village, a grand shrine came into view. It stood tall and proud, it was the shrine Luna noticed yesterday, its vibrant red hue stark against the pale sands.

Luna couldn't help but admire it's craftsmanship. "Isaiah," she began, "you said going into the desert alone is dangerous. Why were you out there by yourself?"

Isaiah scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was hunting sand rabbits. They're pretty much the only source of meat we have here."

Luna furrowed her brows. "Why just them?"

"It's not because they're the only animals in the desert," Isaiah explained. "It's because everything else gets eaten by the Sand Snakes. The rabbits dig their burrows so deep that even the snakes can't reach them."

"That's… terrifying," Luna muttered, casting a wary glance toward the endless expanse of sand.

The shrine seemed to beckon her closer, its aura calm and serene. She walked toward it, brushing her fingers against the weathered wood. A gentle breeze swept past her, ruffling her hair as she gazed out at the vast desert beyond.

This place… it's beautiful, but so dangerous, she thought. Her eyes drifted to the endless horizon, where the dunes met the clear blue sky.

Will I ever make it back home?