Chapter 3 Journey

The sand beneath us blurred as the Sand Snake propelled itself forward, gliding across the dunes with impossible speed. The wind whipped against my face, and I tightened my grip around Isaiah's waist, the sensation of flight and freefall mingling in my chest.

Is this even faster than a Speed Dragon? I wondered. Those creatures were said to be the fastest in the world, their speed unmatched by any beast or machine. But the way this Sand Snake moved… it made me doubt. My heart raced, caught somewhere between amazement and terror.

"We're here now," Isaiah suddenly announced, his voice cutting through the rush of wind.

I blinked, confused. Here? That couldn't be right. We had only been riding for… what, a few hours? I squinted at the horizon, expecting to see the jagged peaks of the Gaia Mountains, but there was nothing but endless dunes.

"Are you sure?" I asked skeptically, leaning slightly to glance at him.

"Yes!" he said, his confidence as unwavering as ever.

With an exaggerated sigh, I reached down and released the diamond-shaped retaining straps I had made earlier, securing myself to the snake. "Now!" I yelled, holding on tightly as Isaiah and I leapt from the Sand Snake's back onto the nearest dune.

Sand kicked up around us as we landed, sliding slightly before finding our balance. The Sand Snake hissed, its massive body shifting before disappearing into the distance, its job apparently done.

I turned to Isaiah, brushing sand off my clothes. "Why did we stop? Is the Sand Snake tired or something? Or…" I raised an eyebrow. "Did you just get bored of it?"

Isaiah chuckled and pointed at the ground. "Feel that?"

I frowned, wiggling my feet experimentally. It was subtle, but he was right—the ground here was different. It felt firmer, more solid, like packed earth rather than the loose, shifting sand we had been wading through before.

"You don't sink anymore," Isaiah explained, gesturing around us. "Unlike back near the village. That's why we can walk from here."

"But isn't using the Sand Snake faster?" I argued.

Isaiah nodded, his grin not fading. "Oh, for sure. But the ground's too hard for them. They need the loose sand to glide. They can't move through this terrain."

That made sense. I remembered how my feet had sunk almost up to my knees when we first started walking through the desert. Compared to that, this was practically like walking on a cobblestone road.

"But don't get too comfortable," Isaiah added, his tone more serious now. "Just because the ground's easier to walk on doesn't mean it's safer. There are still plenty of monsters around here."

"Great," I muttered under my breath. "Let's get going before it gets dark."

Isaiah, however, just let out an ominous laugh. "Walk? No, no, no. That's not how we do things here."

I stared at him, my patience already wearing thin. "Then how do we do things?"

He turned to me, his grin widening. "Can you make a rectangle with your earth magic? Something big enough for me to stand on?"

I sighed, folding my arms. "Okay… but why?"

"Just trust me, little girl," he said, a playful glint in his eyes.

Ignoring the urge to smack him, I took a deep breath, gathering my mana. "From the soil to the stone, root entwine, in the earth's embrace I shall find, steadfast and strong, as mountains rise, grant me your power, ancient and wise! Earth Creator!"

The spell formed quickly, and a rectangular stone appeared in the air, hovering before us. I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow at Isaiah. "Happy now? What are you even going to do with it?"

"Watch and learn," he said smugly, leaping onto the stone.

Before I could stop him, he kicked off, sliding down the dune like he was on a snowboard. Sand sprayed up behind him as he raced to the bottom, his laughter echoing across the desert.

My mouth hung open. What an idiot, I thought. But I had to admit, it looked… effective. And fun.

With a reluctant sigh, I created another stone and stepped onto it. The moment I shifted my weight, I started sliding, the sand blurring past me. "Whoa!" The rush of wind and the sheer speed sent a thrill through me, and I couldn't help but smile. Maybe Isaiah wasn't completely stupid.

But the fun was short-lived. The sun sank lower and lower, painting the dunes in deep shades of orange and red. Sliding up the dunes was impossible, and every time we reached the top, I had to create new boards, which quickly drained my mana.

My capacity is high, I thought, wiping sweat from my brow, but I can't keep producing mana forever.

When we finally decided to stop, I was utterly drained. With what energy I had left, I created two earth shelters for us to sleep in—one larger, ellipse-shaped one for Isaiah and the luggage, and a smaller one for myself.

Isaiah had brought a bundle of sticks from one of the oases we'd passed, though I was fairly certain he'd stolen them. Sticks were rare in the desert, after all. With a wave of my hand, I ignited them, creating a small, flickering fire.

Isaiah rummaged through his bag, pulling out what looked like a bundle of cloth. "Here, have this," he said, tossing it at me.

I caught it, frowning. "Are these sheets really warm enough?"

He smirked. "They're not just sheets. They're enchanted with a warmth spell. Trust me, once you lie down in one, it'll blow your mind."

Right, I thought, turning the cloth over in my hands. I just hope he didn't steal these too.

With a defeated sigh, I unrolled the sleeping bag and crawled inside. To my surprise, warmth spread through me almost instantly, soothing my aching muscles.

"Goodnight!" Isaiah called cheerfully as he disappeared into his own shelter.

I closed my eyes, exhaustion finally overtaking me. The desert was harsh and unforgiving, but for now, at least, I was warm and safe. Tomorrow would be another long day, but I would face it—just like I always did.

Part 2

The next morning.

The faint streams of early sunlight seeped through a small hole in the wall of my shelter, landing squarely on my face. I groaned softly, rolling over in a futile attempt to avoid the light, but it was no use. Reluctantly, I cracked open one eye—my left, because the other one was nonexistent anymore.

The first thought that came to me was simple but filled with relief: We made it through the first night.

I stretched out, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from the previous day's journey. Crawling out of the warm, enchanted sleeping bag into the cold morning air was far from appealing, but I didn't have much of a choice.

I poked my head out of the shelter, the crisp desert air nipping at my skin, and saw Isaiah sitting by the fire, poking at it lazily with a stick.

"Did you make that yourself?" I asked, still groggy as I shuffled closer.

He looked up, his usual grin plastered across his face. "Yeah, with magic. But uh… I may have almost burned all our luggage in the process." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

That would've been a disaster. How does someone so reckless survive out here?

"How long is this journey going to take, oh fearless captain?" I asked dryly, settling down near the fire to warm my hands.

"One full week!" he declared. "So let's get going!"

The rest of the week passed without much incident, which, in hindsight, was a blessing. The climb up the Gaia Mountains was grueling but manageable, with no unexpected run-ins with dragons or life-threatening monsters—something I'd been dreading since the journey began.

By the end of the week, Luna found herself standing on the peak of the mountain, gazing out at the view below. 

The desert had finally given way to greener pastures, and in the distance, I could see the sprawling city of Gaia. It was like something out of a dream, its white-stone walls gleaming in the sunlight, surrounded by lush greenery and shimmering rivers.

But before we started descending, something caught my eye—a lone stone marker standing atop the mountain. Its surface was carved with a symbol, simple yet unmistakable: a mountain.

"What's this?" I asked, stepping closer to inspect it.

Isaiah glanced at it and nodded knowingly. "That's an offering stone for the Earth God," he explained. "People who believe in Maho leave offerings here."

I looked down and noticed small coins and bits of food scattered around the base of the stone. The sight made me pause.

I wondered how many travelers before us had stopped here, their faith urging them to leave a token of gratitude or hope.

The descent was easier, though my legs still felt like jelly by the time we reached the base of the mountain. From here, the city was close enough to make out its gates and bustling streets. Excitement bubbled in my chest. After everything, the thought of finally reaching Gaia felt surreal.

I glanced at Isaiah, who, for once, wasn't grinning like an idiot. He was gazing at the city with a quiet determination, as if seeing it meant more to him than he was letting on

"Let's go," he said softly, and for once, I didn't argue.

So we continued our journey.