The sun had almost completely vanished beyond the horizon, and the desert was bathed in the blood-red light of sunset. The last rays of sunlight cast long shadows across the dunes, and the air grew steadily colder, heralding the arrival of the desert's frigid night.
Alex and Lyra carefully passed the glowing runes, heading toward the first of the buildings. They were carved into the rock, with walls uneven and cracked from years of wind and erosion. On their surfaces, traces of long-forgotten inscriptions could still be seen—now nearly worn away by sand and time.
As they approached the first house, they peeked through a small, rectangular window. Darkness reigned inside, but even without light, it was clear the interior had been completely ransacked.
— Empty, Alex muttered.
The door had long since vanished, along with any furniture or belongings. Over the years, the wind had forced its way inside, covering the floor in nearly a meter of sand.
— Are we sleeping here? Alex asked, glancing at Lyra.
Desert nights were freezing cold, and though the building was exposed, it still offered some protection from the wind and sand.
— Let's check the second house, Lyra replied.
They moved to the neighboring building. It looked almost identical to the first—the same cracked walls, the same emptiness inside. However, this one had much less sand blown in, and the walls appeared to be in better condition.
— Maybe here? Lyra said, looking around the room. Less wind, and not much to clean.
Alex nodded.
— Fine by me.
But before they could unpack their things, the silence of the desert was shattered by a terrifying roar.
The sound was deep, inhuman, echoing across the land. The ground trembled slightly, and the air filled with electric tension.
— Stone demon… Lyra whispered, instinctively reaching for her weapon.
Alex, heart pounding, cautiously looked out through the building's entrance.
Perched on the edge of a boulder near the runes stood a towering, three-meter-tall creature. A true giant, its body was composed of massive stone plates that looked like they could collapse at any moment—yet they held together in perfect harmony. Its form seemed a part of the desert—the stones making up its body were coated with sand and dust, and in the cracks between them glowed red light, like burning coals trapped deep within a mountain.
The demon had no mouth, yet a low, vibrating rumble emanated from within it, like a thunderstorm rolling deep underground. Its eyes—two blazing ruby torches—shone with inhuman intelligence. This wasn't a mindless beast. It knew they were there.
The creature tried to cross the rune boundary, but the invisible barrier held firm. Each time it moved, the ancient symbols glowed brighter, illuminating the desert night.
The demon struck the barrier with a massive hand, shaking the ground beneath them. The runes sparked with blue light, deflecting the blow.
— Will that hold him back? Alex asked, his eyes fixed on the monster.
Lyra remained silent for a moment, her hand clenched tightly around her weapon, trembling slightly.
— I hope so… she answered quietly.
The demon didn't relent. It stared at them through the luminous barrier, its blazing eyes seeming to probe their souls. It wasn't just a creature of the desert—it was the desert. Its wrath.
Alex felt his throat tighten with fear.
The runes still glowed, keeping the stone demon at bay, but something began to shift. The air around the creature thickened, as if reality itself quivered under some unnatural force. And then…
They began to appear.
At first, they were shadows—hazy figures flickering near the colossal demon. A moment later, the darkness of the desert came alive as other demons emerged from the void.
From the sand slithered long, serpentine forms. Their scales shimmered in the pale rune-light, and their red eyes gleamed like hot embers. Their massive bodies, over two meters long, moved with sinister grace. Forked tongues flicked in the air, tasting the scent of mortals. Their motion was fluid, threatening, and the sand beneath them rippled like wind-stirred water.
Behind them, other beings began to materialize.
Huge, massive scorpions, nearly two meters tall, their armor glistening like polished obsidian. Their enormous pincers clicked with a quiet snap, and the long, curved stingers at the ends of their tails glinted menacingly.
But what truly made Alex feel the grip of terror hovered above.
In the sky, just above them, circled several massive shapes. Shadows against the stars—bat-like creatures with wide, ghostly wings that looked immaterial, woven from the very fabric of darkness. Their eyes glowed purple, and each beat of their wings created sudden gusts of wind, as if storms themselves were their obedient servants.
— Wind demons… Lyra whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by one of the airborne beasts' long, echoing cries.
Alex turned to her.
— That's a bad sign, isn't it?
— It means we're not welcome here.
Beneath the stone demon, near the runes, the sand began to shift. The snakes slid closer, hissing softly, while the scorpions slowly circled, as if searching for a weak point in the barrier.
One of the wind demons dove—but collided with the barrier about three meters above their heads. Its wings flared, sending a gust of wind across the area. The runes on the rock blazed brighter, as if responding to the provocation. But Alex noticed something else. For a split second, when the gust hit the invisible wall, the lines of magic sparked like a stretched thread.
He stood motionless, staring at the demon horde surrounding them. He felt the weight of their gaze—full of hunger, rage, and something else… something he couldn't name. The monsters didn't attack randomly. It was as if they knew the rune barrier still held. They waited. Tested their patience.
Alex's throat tightened again.
Then he felt a warm touch on his shoulder.
— Don't worry, Lyra said, her voice calm yet alert. We're safe in here. They can't get through the runes.
Alex wanted to believe her. He really did. But the creatures acted as if they had heard her.
Suddenly, all the demons attacked at once.
The serpents struck the barrier with their snouts, recoiling each time the invisible wall lashed back with blue lightning. The scorpions hammered their massive pincers against it, and the wind demons dived from above, trying to pierce it with gales that lifted clouds of sand and turned the air into a chaotic whirlwind.
The runes burned with brilliant light, repelling the onslaught. The air was thick with static, as if the barrier itself was defending them.
But it didn't break.
An hour passed.
The monsters found no weakness.
One by one, they began to withdraw.
The snakes slid back into the desert sands, disappearing into cracks as if they'd never been there. The scorpions lowered their tails and vanished into the dark, their shells creaking with every step. The wind demons swirled above once more, then ascended and finally vanished into the night sky beyond the dunes.
Only the stone demon remained.
It stood motionless, watching them, its burning eyes scanning them—as if assessing, memorizing. Its massive body, like a walking mountain, seemed to merge with the surrounding landscape.
And then, wordlessly, it turned and disappeared behind the dunes, leaving behind only the echo of its heavy footsteps and a slight tremor in the earth.
Silence settled around the barrier at last.
Every now and then, a lone demon approached the runes, testing their strength. A scorpion struck with its pincers, a snake brushed against the edge, a wind demon flew low, stirring dust. But these were half-hearted attempts. As if they knew this wasn't their night.
— They're gone, but… Alex began, glancing at Lyra.
— But they'll come back, she finished for him.
— We need to rest. As soon as the sun rises, we move, Lyra said, her expression serious.
She didn't need to remind him. He knew their safety was temporary, and every moment spent here carried risk. He sighed softly and nodded, glancing once more at the lurking demons in the distance before turning back inside.
The room they had found was barren and cold. Bare stone walls reflected the faint moonlight spilling through a crack in the wall. The sand that had gathered over the years muffled their steps, making the place feel even quieter, more abandoned.
They laid out bedding taken from the hunters and lay down, covering themselves with thin blankets made from their old clothes.
For the next hour, they spoke softly about the demons, the events of the night, and their plans for the coming day. Weariness began to weigh on them. Alex felt his eyelids grow heavy, his thoughts dissolving into chaotic images. He was on the edge of sleep when he heard Lyra's sleepy whisper.
— I-it's cold…
Without waiting for a reply, she slid her bedding closer and nestled against his side.
Alex froze for a moment, feeling the warmth of her body so close to his. For a brief second, he didn't know how to react. His heart sped up slightly, and his thoughts melted into a sudden, surprising sense of closeness.
Though Lyra was shorter than him, her body was strong, solid. Years of training had sculpted her into something more muscular than he expected—and he felt it clearly as she pressed against him. Her skin was warm despite the cold night, and her breath quickened, as if she wasn't used to moments like this.
He could smell the sand tangled in her hair from their escape. She shivered slightly, pressing even closer, instinctively seeking warmth and comfort.
Without thinking further, he wrapped an arm around her. Gently, cautiously, as if afraid to scare her off. His hand rested on her shoulder, fingers lightly grasping the fabric of her tunic. Lyra stirred slightly, then sighed and relaxed into his embrace.
— Thank you… she murmured sleepily, barely audible.
Her breathing slowed, and the trembling stopped. Alex felt the tension he'd carried with him begin to fade. For the first time in hours, his mind was not filled with fear or uncertainty.
Outside, the desert remained restless. The wind howled between rocks, and in the distance, the faint sounds of the monsters still echoed. But here, in this quiet, humble shelter, with Lyra curled beside him, she felt like the only thing that mattered.
Alex closed his eyes, letting her warmth and his exhaustion finally claim him.
Tomorrow, another fight awaited them.But tonight, if only for a moment, they could rest.