Desolate Desert…
The group, led by the young master Aran Lam, halted at the end point marked on their half map. The desolate terrain stretched endlessly in all directions, devoid of the grandeur they were promised. The Eternal Music Hall, their destination, was nowhere to be seen.
Aran frowned, his hand gripping the half map tightly. “This is it! This is the spot marked last on this map. So where should we move now? There is no trace of Eternal Music hall. ” His voice carried frustration as he scanned the barren expanse.
The rich lady, draped in her elegant robes, moved close to Aran. “The map is incomplete and only has half information. Perhaps there’s a hidden clue we’ve missed?” she suggested, her tone measured but laced with irritation.
Behind them, the rest of the group stood awkwardly, exchanging uncertain glances. Among them, Jean stood a long distance away from group, her calm demeanor in stark contrast to the chaos brewing among the others. Beside her stood Gunji Zing, the black girl, her face etched with worry.
“Sister Jean… what do we do now? This journey feels cursed. Do you think we’ll even survive?” Gunji broke the silence, her voice hesitant.
Jean looked at her, her eyes steady. “We’ve faced worse than this. Don’t let fear cloud your resolve.” She reached out and patted Gunji’s shoulder gently. “It will be alright. Trust me.”
Gunji sighed, shaking her head. “I don’t know, Sister. This place… it feels wrong. And Aran… his obsession with the Eternal Music Hall will get us all killed. Also, the rich lady is acting hard on you intentionally.”
Jean’s lips curled into a faint smile. “She is just a show off. Don’t take that rich girl seriously. But for now, let’s focus on surviving. Keep your eyes open, and don’t trust anyone blindly. Not even me.”
Gunji stared at Jean for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, sister. But if this goes sideways, I’m sticking with you.”
Jean’s gaze flicked toward the arguing figures of Aran and the rich lady. “That might be the wisest decision you’ve made today.”
Just as the group’s frustration reached its peak, a sudden burst of golden light illuminated the desert, bright as the midday sun. The entire group shielded their eyes as the light moved like a comet across the horizon.
“What in the heavens is that?” someone whispered in awe.
“Is that the eternal musical hall?” Someone shouted loudly.
“It’s… the Shrine of Eternal Sands!” another voice cried out, trembling with excitement.
Aran’s eyes widened, his greed evident. “Yes, it’s really the shrine of eternal sands. It’s on the move! Everyone, after it! Catch it before it disappears!”
Without hesitation, the group erupted into chaos. Driven by greed and desperation, individuals broke away from the cluster, chasing after the golden light. Some even activated treasures to enhance their speed, soaring into the air or dashing across the sands at impossible velocities.
Jean and Gunji exchanged a glance.
“Are we really doing this?” Gunji asked breathlessly.
Jean nodded. “Do we have a choice? Let’s go. Don’t get separated.”
The two joined the pursuit, their figures blending into the frenzied crowd. Despite their efforts, the Shrine of Eternal Sands moved with unparalleled speed, leaving most of the group far behind.
After ten minutes, only five figures remained in the race: Jean, Aran, the rich lady, Gunji, and an elderly man whose aura radiated resilience.
Aran glanced over his shoulder, his teeth clenched. “We’re losing it!”
“Keep going! If we stop now, it’s all over!” The rich lady shouted.
The shrine glimmered tantalizingly ahead, its golden light fading into the distance. Despite their determination, hope waned as the gap between them and the shrine grew.
Not a single one of them has the hope of reaching it. But they didn’t stopped the pursuit.
–
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7th realm…
Far away, in the towering halls of the Quinn Family Empire, Emperor Ryon sat in a gilded chamber, with a grave expression. Across from him, the imposing figure of Jason Mama, the head of the 9 Realms Association, leaned back in his seat. The tension on their faces was palpable.
“You might not believe what I am going to say. but it is the truth.” Ryon began, his voice heavy.
Jason stared with a skeptical look, thinking, ‘why Ryon is talking in such a dramatic tone.
“Kent… he’s my firstborn son.” Finally Ryon dropped the bomb.
Jason froze mid-sip, his goblet slipping from his grasp. The glass shattered against the marble floor, sending shards scattering. His face twisted in shock. “What?! You mean to tell me… Kent, that wretched bastard, is your son? How can this be?”
Ryon’s gaze darkened, his tone became more rough. “He is the son of Madam Clark, my first wife. The same boy I abandoned years ago and got poisoned with Heavenly poison by your people.”
Jason’s disbelief was evident as he stared at Ryon in disbelief. “I don’t understand… the poison should’ve killed him. No one survives Heavenly poison! That too a child. I thought we kept a full stop to your first wife’s story. And yet, here we are, with this outcast Kent cropping up like a weed in the form of your son.”
Ryon’s voice dropped. “He shouldn’t have survived. But he did. And now, it seems fate has brought him back to haunt me.”
Jason slammed a fist on the table. “Fate or not, it doesn’t matter. Kent is dead. Our sons might have already cremated his body. The real issue now is Madam Clark. That woman is a thorn in your side. We need to end her once and for all.” Jason declared with a murderous look.
Ryon’s brow furrowed. “You mean to kill my first wife? But she vanished decades ago. Even the Blue Planet is sealed off from our reach. How do you propose we find her?”
Jason chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry about that. I have my ways. The Wand Magus Alaric—he’s under my thumb now. He is the head of the blue planet wizard association on the Blue Planet and will open the gates for our spies. Once they’re in, we’ll track down Madam Clark and eliminate her.”
Ryon nodded slowly, though doubt lingered in his eyes. “I still have my reservations, Jason. My father, Drona, warned me about meddling too deeply in this matter. He said to take Kent as rightful…”
Jason interrupted with a dismissive wave. “Your father’s words are relics of an outdated era. This is our time, Ryon. Trust me. Once we deal with Madam Clark, your empire will stand unchallenged.”
Ryon leaned back, his mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. As Jason continued to outline his plan, the emperor’s gaze drifted to the distant horizon, where memories of his lost son and wife lingered like ghosts. More than anything, his father Drona’s words kept ringing in his thoughts.
–
*Thank you for the golden tickets… We are on the way to break the WIN-WIN challenge.