Every step within my body burns for thirst and rest. The sun above burns hot like a fire. The sand below my feet flames like that of a stove. Even through my worn old shoes that I stole from a thief many months back. It is hot; damn hot but I have no other choice. I must go through this desert.733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHU90muB8I
Only then the curse will be lifted as promised. I must cross this desert.733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikvUoZ1mzr
This is hell. Hell on earth. No wonder there are no animals or plants at sight. What is this I feel brushing against my skin so soft and cool? Ah, a breeze. I halted and savoured the cool breeze; stood up straight and breathed in deeply. My throat was dry of thirst while drops of sweat trickled down from my brow.
Suddenly everything began to turn around me. The sand dunes slid to the corners of my eyes, the sun danced in the blue sky and then everything went black.
Suddenly I felt something cool resting on my forehead and an odd smell of hay and something else protruded my nostrils. I opened my eyes and blinked of the bright light. The brightness slightly stung my eyes that I groaned and held up an arm to cover it.
"Glad that you've returned to the living again. I almost thought you were dead." Spoke a voice of man, a young man I presume.
Slowly I removed the arm from my eyes and looked around me. Right beside me sat a young man cross legged and on the other side rested a camel, chewing peacefully on a bit of grass and provided me some shadow to cool. The young man had shoulder long coal black wavy hair and was tanned from the burning sun, more tanned than I am. From his robes I noticed he is from around here and accustomed to this damn hot environment.733Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfyUo9HwIN
"Here." He offered me a leathered bottle. "You can drink the rest."
Quickly I took it into my hands. Something fluid made a gushing sound as I grabbed it rapidly. Water? I looked to the young man.
He gave a friendly grin and nodded. "Go ahead. It's water."
As he spoke the word 'water' I immediately held the bottle to my lips and felt the cool water clearing my throat and soon my entire body and mind.
"What were you doing in the desert, especially so close to Mekaneh?"
"Me- Mekaneh?" I blinked. From what I've heard Mekaneh is the only city residing in the middle of the desert. This could mean I am half way through.
"You- you never heard of?" The young man blinked in disbelief.
I grinned to his reaction. "No worries. I have heard of Mekaneh. I'm from the same land." I paused and think if I can truely trust him. "I'm Hagan from the land of the tall mountains, Clearwell."
"I'm Yorren from the land of the sand, Mekaneh. What were you doing in the desert, Hagan?"
"Trying to cross it."
"Why?"
"To lift the curse that has befallen upon my village."
"Did you put the curse over the village?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Then why-"
"It was my brother who did it and he died shortly after. The rest is none of your concern. Many thanks for the water, Yorren." As I wanted to stand up Yorren took hold of my wrist and slid the sleeve back. There shone under the sun the tattoo of the curse. If no one knew, many would have noted it as an interesting art. Embroidery of flames in the style of the land of the mountains were visible. Drawn the flames in similar shapes as the drops of the rain or morning dew. Some slightly waved, irregular shaped and few appeared stiff in brown ink.
"Those- those aren't any ordinary tattoos is it? It's the tattoo of the curse, the curse of malice." Yorren lets go of my wrist with widened eyes.
"That's why I have to cross the desert to uplift it once and for all."
Yorren stared at me in disbelief as if I have gone mad. Quickly he stood up and looked me into the eye. "How can you be certain that the curse will be uplifted once you crossed the desert?" I froze and was speechless to his question. "From what I've heard from the elders the curse can only lifted from the within. What you try to do will only worsen it instead of making it better. I know this because Mekaneh once too fell into this curse many decades ago." He paused. "Many see that past as a story or a legend while the elders remember it from their elders and I believe them."
"From within? What must I do? I've traveled far and wide to come here and all for naught!" I clenched my teeth and balled my fists while suppressing my tears of frustration and feel a choking pain at the back of my throat. "What must I do?"
"Take it easy. Nothing's lost. Let me help you."
"You've given me water to live, this knowledge to uplift the curse and now offering help. I should offer you something in return." I looked down at the golden sand in shame and anger. Having come this far with false conviction built on my own. How could I have been so blind?
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