The first rays of sunlight spilled across the desert landscape, painting the sky in shades of gold and orange. The day's warmth slowly began to chase away the chill of the night, and a gentle wind lifted fine grains of sand into the air.
In the shadow of one of the stone buildings, on a makeshift bed of clothes and thin blankets, two wanderers stirred from sleep.
Lyra was the first to open her eyes, feeling familiar warmth beside her. Her body was nestled against Alex's, his arm resting across her back. Her heart skipped a beat as she became aware of their closeness.
Moments later, Alex awoke as well. They looked at each other, their eyes meeting for the briefest of seconds before quickly darting away, suddenly finding the stone walls far more interesting. Embarrassment colored their faces, though neither said a word.
Lyra was the first to break the awkward silence.
— We should eat something, she said, her voice steady, though slightly shaky.
They pulled supplies from their pack and ate a modest breakfast: dried meat of unknown origin, which Alex had stolen from the kitchen before their escape, and a few sweet fruits with twisted shapes. Their pulp was juicy, and the taste reminded Alex of a blend of honey and citrus, leaving a pleasant, refreshing note on the tongue.
As they ate, they looked around for any place to refill their water—but all they found were dry rocks and endless dunes.
Alex frowned, observing the surface of the stones. The morning light revealed tiny droplets of dew gathered in the crevices. An idea began to form in his mind—a potential method to collect water in the future.
— Can we go? Lyra asked, gathering the rest of their things.
— Just a moment, Alex replied, stepping toward the stone runes to examine them more closely.
As he approached one of the boulders, he heard a hiss. He froze, his gaze dropping downward.
Just a few centimeters from his foot lay a viper. Its slender body was almost invisible against the sand, and its eyes glinted menacingly in the sunlight.
Alex went rigid, his muscles tensing instinctively. He began to slowly back away, careful not to make any sudden movements. But before he could take a step, the viper struck.
It lunged at him in a flash, fangs bared and ready to sink into his leg.
He didn't even have time to react before a dagger whistled past his foot. The blade cut through the air and struck the viper square in the head, pinning it in place.
Lyra was already beside him, her eyes blazing with tension.
— Are you okay?! Her voice was sharp, filled with concern. It didn't bite you?
Alex, still stunned, looked down at the dead snake. Only then did he realize how fast his heart was pounding.
— No… he finally managed. Thank you.
Without thinking, he hugged Lyra—grateful not just for the rescue, but for her presence.
She remained in his embrace for a moment before pulling back, her expression hardening.
— You need to be more careful. It's not just people and demons that are dangerous out here.
She knelt beside the dead snake and, with a quick motion, severed its head. Then, without hesitation, she stuffed the rest of the body into her backpack.
— Let's go, she said.
Still shaken, Alex looked at the massive boulder marked with a rune.
— Wait a moment longer, he said.
He tore a piece of sleeve from his tunic and dipped a finger into the snake's blood. With all the precision his nerves allowed, he began to trace the symbol from the stone onto the fabric.
When he finished, he held up the blood-stained cloth and studied his work.
— Done.
They were about to leave when a sudden impulse made Alex touch the rune on the boulder.
The moment his hand rested on the cold stone, something shifted.
He felt a gentle tingling, as though invisible energy had begun to flow through his body. For a split second, he felt like he was standing in the middle of a storm, the air around him charged with electricity. The rune beneath his fingers quivered slightly, and then the symbol he had drawn on the cloth flared with a faint, pale blue light.
It was like a brief connection—as if the stone had recognized his symbol as part of itself. Then, just as quickly, everything returned to normal.
Lyra stood frozen, staring at him wide-eyed.
— You're incredible… she whispered, gazing at Alex with a mix of awe and disbelief. It's only the second day since we escaped, and you keep surprising me.
Alex looked at her, a chill running down his spine. He didn't understand what had just happened, but he knew it was important.
Lyra shook her head, as if trying to clear her thoughts.
— But we really have to move.
There was no time for experiments. Ahead of them stretched the endless desert, and more challenges awaited beyond the horizon.
And so, without another word, they set off toward their next destination, marching under the burning desert sun.