The day stretched on in lazy serenity, the kind of peace Xin had almost forgotten was possible. The oasis was a paradise unlike anything he had ever known—a shimmering jewel in the middle of an unforgiving wasteland. The water reflected the sky so perfectly that it felt like stepping into another world, an endless expanse of blue and gold stretching in every direction. The warm breeze carried the scent of fresh water and something floral, faint but intoxicating. It was the kind of place that made you forget the world outside existed, a sanctuary where time seemed to slow down, and the weight of their mission felt like a distant memory.
Raven was more relaxed than usual, sitting near the water's edge with his armor glinting in the sunlight. Xin had never known Raven to take pleasure in anything beyond the mission. He was always so focused, so driven, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. But here, in this impossible oasis, even he seemed to let go of whatever burden he always carried. His posture was less rigid, his presence was softer, and though he was still quiet, there was a calmness to him that Xin hadn't seen before. He had even been a bit more talkative, though by Raven's standards, that meant a few extra sentences here and there.
Belial, on the other hand, had all but abandoned movement entirely. He spent most of his time stretched out beneath the shade of a leaning palm, napping in complete, unbothered bliss. Occasionally, he would mutter something incoherent, turn over, and fall back into a deep slumber. Xin had tried waking him once just to tease him, but all he got in return was a lazy grunt and a half-hearted swat before Belial rolled onto his side and ignored the world once more. It was almost impressive how thoroughly Belial had embraced the concept of doing absolutely nothing.
Xin, for his part, was enjoying the rare moment of downtime. They had been through so much—endless battles, treacherous catacombs, and the constant pressure of their mission. This oasis felt like a reward, a brief respite from the chaos. He sat cross-legged near the water, idly tossing small stones into the shimmering surface and watching the ripples spread outward. The air was warm, the breeze gentle, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he could just be.
"You know," Xin said, breaking the comfortable silence, "we should probably make use of this place while we're here. I mean, it's not every day you find a spot like this in the middle of nowhere."
Raven glanced over, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing the practicality of Xin's suggestion. "What did you have in mind?"
Xin grinned, gesturing to the small pile of supplies they had brought with them. "Well, for starters, we've got that leftover meat from the catacombs. Might as well cook it up before it goes bad. And I was thinking… we could try cooking some sodium. You know, for fun."
Raven raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Cooking sodium. For fun."
"Yeah!" Xin said, undeterred. "I mean, when else are we going to get the chance? It's not like we're in a hurry right now. Besides, it could be interesting. Maybe even educational."
Belial, who had been dozing nearby, let out a low groan. "Educational," he muttered, his voice thick with sleep. "You're going to blow us up, is what you're going to do."
Xin laughed, tossing a small pebble in Belial's direction. It landed harmlessly in the sand beside him. "Come on, Bel. Live a little. When's the last time you did something just for the sake of it?"
Belial cracked one eye open, giving Xin a look that was equal parts annoyance and amusement. "I'm living plenty, thank you. Right here, in this very spot. And I'd like to keep living, which is why I'm not going anywhere near your sodium experiment."
Raven sighed, shaking his head. "If you're going to do this, at least be careful. Sodium is highly reactive. One wrong move, and you'll set the whole oasis on fire."
Xin waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, I know what I'm doing. Mostly. Besides, it's not like we're dealing with a huge amount. Just a little bit, to see what happens."
Raven didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he leaned back on his hands, watching as Xin rummaged through their supplies. Belial, for his part, had already closed his eyes again, clearly done with the conversation.
As Xin set up a small fire pit and began preparing the meat, the trio fell into an easy rhythm. The sound of crackling flames and the occasional splash of water from the oasis filled the air, creating a soothing backdrop to their conversation. It was a rare moment of camaraderie, a break from the usual tension that came with their mission.
"You know," Xin said after a while, "this kind of reminds me of those old stories about adventurers finding hidden paradises. You know, the ones where they stumble across some magical place and just… stay there. Forget about the outside world."
Raven snorted softly. "Those stories always leave out the part where the paradise turns out to be a trap."
"Or where the adventurers get bored and start fighting each other," Belial added, his voice muffled by the arm he had thrown over his face.
Xin laughed. "Okay, fair point. But still, you have to admit, this place is pretty amazing. I mean, look at it." He gestured to the oasis, the water sparkling in the sunlight, the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. "It's like something out of a dream.
Raven followed Xin's gaze, his tone thoughtful. "It's a temporary reprieve," he said after a moment. "Nothing more. We can't afford to forget why we're here."
Xin sighed, poking at the fire with a stick. "I know, I know. But can't we just enjoy it for a little while? We've been through hell and back. We deserve a break."
Raven didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Finally, he nodded, almost imperceptibly. "For a little while," he conceded.
Belial, who had been listening despite his apparent disinterest, let out a low chuckle. "Careful, Raven. You're starting to sound almost human."
Raven shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "And you're starting to sound almost useful."
Belial grinned, not bothering to open his eyes. "Touché."
As the meat cooked, filling the air with a savory aroma, Xin turned his attention to the sodium. He had a small piece of it wrapped in oiled paper, carefully stored to prevent any accidental reactions. He held it up, examining it in the sunlight.
"Alright," he said, mostly to himself. "Let's see what happens."
Raven and Belial both watched, albeit with varying degrees of interest, as Xin placed the sodium on a flat stone near the fire. He took a step back, waiting. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as the heat began to take effect, the sodium started to react, sizzling and sparking as it came into contact with the air.
"Whoa," Xin said, his eyes wide with fascination. "Look at that!"
Belial sat up slightly, squinting at the display. "Huh. That's actually kind of cool."
Raven, ever the pragmatist, remained unimpressed. "It's a chemical reaction. Nothing more."
Xin ignored him, too caught up in the moment. "It's like a tiny fireworks show! I mean, look at those colors!"
The sodium continued to react, casting a faint golden glow as it burned. It was a small, contained spectacle, but in the tranquility of the oasis, it felt almost magical. For a brief moment, the trio was united in their shared curiosity, the weight of their mission forgotten.
As the reaction died down, Xin sat back, a satisfied smile on his face. "Well, that was fun."
Belial chuckled, lying back down. "You're easily entertained, you know that?"
"Maybe," Xin said, shrugging. "But isn't that kind of the point? Finding joy in the little things?"
Raven didn't respond, but there was a faint hint of a smile behind the helmet as he turned his gaze back to the water.
Xin Looked at the water. This was nice.
It had been so long since they had a moment of peace, so long since survival wasn't their only concern. And yet… something gnawed at him.
For all its beauty, for all its tranquility, this oasis shouldn't exist.
Not here.
Not in the middle of the This Hell, where life struggled to cling to even the smallest foothold. The contrast was too stark, too unnatural. The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt.
His curiosity getting the better of him, Xin decided to explore.
He wandered beyond the water's edge, past the tall reeds and the gnarled roots of life like Dimond trees that had no business thriving in such a place. The air was warm, the sun beaming down overhead, but something about the atmosphere felt… off. There was no sound of monsters,
It was silent. Too silent.
He climbed up a ridge that overlooked the oasis, a jagged outcrop of stone that jutted from the ground like the spine of some long-dead beast. The rock was sharp under his fingers, each step requiring careful balance as he made his way higher. When he reached the top, he took a deep breath, scanning the landscape.
From here, the oasis looked even more surreal—a perfect circle of water, green, and life in the middle of cracked and barren wasteland. Not a single blade of grass extended beyond its borders. It was as if someone had cut a hole into reality and placed a different world inside it.
A sudden sharp pain lanced through his leg.
Xin hissed, looking down in confusion. At first, he thought he had scraped himself against the rocks, but as his eyes adjusted, his breath caught in his throat.
Cuts.
Thin, jagged wounds ran across his shin and calf. He traced them with his fingers, feeling the sting of fresh injury, but something was wrong—these weren't new.
There were more.
One. Two. Seven. Twenty.
Thirty-three in total.
Each one looked older than the last, as if they had been made over a long period of time, layered over each other like scars from past lives. Some were faint, barely visible against his skin, while others were fresh, red and raw.
His pulse quickened.
He hadn't been wounded here. He had barely done anything but swim and relax. So why…?
His fingers trembled slightly as he traced the deepest cut, and for a brief moment, the warmth of the oasis seemed to fade, replaced by a distant, creeping chill.
This place…
It wasn't right.
He swallowed hard, glancing back at the oasis below. Belial still slept beneath the tree, Raven still sat by the water, and everything looked as peaceful as it had before.
But now, all Xin could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat.
What is this…?