Sandborn - Awakening of the Frozen Sand

[Always maintain a connection with your ancestors, as they are ready to provide you with strength and insights whenever you need them. Especially in your darkest moments when you feel alone against all odds, they will fight by your side.]

Above the sand, below the sky, beyond the sea, under a tree, a crevice was all that Khaleb could see. The young man, not yet having his twentieth birthday, hurriedly guided his two sisters towards a narrow crevice in the rocky outcrop ahead. Their pursuers, a group of people from the Calabi, were hot on their trail, and the siblings were in desperate need of a hiding place.

Khaleb felt his pulse throbbing in his temples, his legs wobbling from fear and fatigue. He entered the crevice, barely wide enough for a person to slip through, a natural fissure in the rock that seemed to promise refuge. Its walls were rough and uneven, etched with the marks of centuries of erosion, and the ground was littered with loose stones and pebbles.

As soon as the young man and his sisters squeezed into the crevice, the wind began to howl with sudden ferocity. Like trying to warn them not to go any further. It whipped through the narrow passage, picking up sand and debris, swirling them into the air. The sky darkened as the sandstorm gathered strength, obscuring the sun and plunging the world into a sepia-toned twilight.

From the outside, it looked like the sandstorm was trying to conceal the siblings' whereabouts from prying eyes, but wailing through the fissure in the rock, the wind pressed the brother and sisters against the uneven stone wall, robbing their lungs of air and sending cold shivers down their spines. Face covered by a thick cloth, the young man continued forward, struggling to lead his sisters to safety, as his father had ordered.

The path ahead was treacherous and barely visible, the dry wind trying to prevent the siblings from going any deeper. But Khaleb fought against it, his hands feeling along the rough stone for guidance. The ground beneath his feet was bumpy, with sharp rocks jutting out at odd angles, making every step a careful calculation.

As the siblings ventured deeper, the crevice narrowed even further until they were almost crawling through the tight space. The howling wind outside was muted here, but the occasional gust sent a fine spray of sand swirling into their eyes. Despite the discomfort, the young man pressed on, urging his sisters to keep moving.

The fissure began to twist and turn, forming a labyrinthine passage that seemed to go on forever. The walls were cold to the touch, and the shadows deepened. Khaleb stepped into a hole and rolled down into a slightly wider area. On the ground, he met with a scorpion just an arm away from his head.

"Brother, are you alright?" Kaira, the oldest of the three, asked.

"Be careful where you step," Khaleb replied, slowly getting up, keeping his attention on the scorpion.

No one dared to attack, and both parties seemed to have reached a silent agreement. The humans continued on their journey, and the scorpion entered a slit in the stone wall.

"The air is clean here; you can breathe freely," Khaleb said, removing the sand-filled cloth covering half of his face.

Being focused only on moving forward, the siblings didn't realize the strange phenomenon occurring at their backs. It wasn't like the wind didn't have enough strength to follow them further, but it simply stopped somewhere along the way, blocked by a strange force.

Outside the crevice, the group of Calabi people made their way through the sandstorm that only seemed to encompass the area around the rocky outcrop. Mounted on desert horses with double eyelids and large hooves, the warriors were guided by an elder of their kin.

"They must've entered there," the elder said, pointing at the crevice.

"You sure, Hamsha?" asked Numdul, the man riding at the front. He wasn't happy about following his prey into the narrow depths of the desert.

"I'm afraid so; their flux* signature ends there," Hamsha the Old said. Being a sensory type fluxweaver, he had the upper hand in tracking prey in the desert.

"If not for Surumadur's order, I would've let them die of thirst," Numdul murmured, squinting at the crevice. "Shelter the horses!"

The warriors dismounted, guiding their animals to sit down near the lone but green tree. After covering the heads of the horses with large pieces of cloth, two warriors remained with Hamsha the Old to shelter them, while the rest entered the narrow fissure, following Numdul's lead.

"Brother, let's stop here," Faira, the youngest of the siblings, said to her brother, afraid of going any deeper into the heart of the desert.

The place they were in wasn't as narrow as the entrance, and the path ahead was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to know if a devilish pit lay ahead.

"Faira, come here," Kaira said. Opening her arms, she welcomed her little sister into her protective embrace. They were now alone, their father most probably dead.

Their brother, Khaleb, remained silent, giving them a few minutes to catch their breath. But from his restless behavior, he looked inclined to go deeper, unsure if the Calabi wouldn't find them here. He hoped that going down into the claws of the desert would deter their pursuers from following them. However, unknown to him, he chose to come to this place, called by something.

Every child of the desert knew how dangerous the underground could be, but even with that, Khaleb knew that letting the Calabi catch them would be even more painful than being swallowed by the sands or killed by scorpions.

All of a sudden, Khaleb halted his breathing, gazing back. He thought to have heard voices, but he wasn't sure. Kaira looked at his strange behavior, not making even the slightest of sounds.

"They really came after us," Khaleb said, picking up a small stone.

Kaira heard nothing, but her heart froze at the words of her brother.

Khaleb threw the stone into the dark passage. It clashed with the pebbles on its path down before hitting a wall, making an echoing sound.

"Let's go," Khaleb whispered, descending cautiously, each step echoing softly against the parched stone walls that flanked the passage. The air grew cooler and heavier the deeper he ventured, carrying with it the scent of earth and age.

Kaira followed him, holding Faira's little hand in a tight grip. The little one said nothing, even though it hurt her.

Khaleb's fingers brushed the rough-hewn walls for balance, feeling the cold, gritty texture beneath his fingertips. He probed the ground before every step, the darkness pressing in, almost palpable.

Reaching a point where the path veered sharply to the right, Khaleb paused. Before he could take another step, the air around him seemed to shiver with unease. Suddenly, torches mounted along the walls ignited in a rapid sequence, their flames springing to life with an audible hiss. The corridor blazed with an eerie light, casting long, wavering shadows that danced with an almost sentient quality.

"Brother?" Kaira asked, instinctively hiding her little sister behind her.

Khaleb's breath caught in his throat as the torches revealed a large chamber below him. He stood on a ledge overlooking the room, the path continuing to a stairway that descended into the cavernous space. The chamber was vast, its ceiling lost in the gloom above, with pillars of carved stone rising like ancient sentinels. At its center, an altar of dark granite loomed, depicting the statue of a man sitting in meditation.

Taking a deep breath, Khaleb stepped forward, his descent into the chamber marked by the steady thud of his boots on the stone steps. Each step brought him closer to the altar, the sense of ancient power growing stronger. As he reached the floor of the chamber, the torches dimmed slightly, their flames flickering as if in anticipation of what was to come.

"Come, let's search for something helpful," Khaleb said to his sisters.

The place looked to be a retreat cave swallowed by the desert with the passage of time. At first glance, there wasn't anything valuable, but Khaleb hoped to find a hiding place or an artifact that could save them. Searching for a little while, his gaze landed on something.

There, nestled near the corner of the room, stood a pedestal carved from dark, weathered stone. The pedestal was intricately adorned with patterns that seemed to writhe and shift under the torchlight, telling tales of a bygone era.

Atop the pedestal rested a delicate, black ring. Its band was adorned with intricate engravings that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. At its center, a purple gemstone shimmered with an inner fire, its depths revealing shifting colors that seemed almost otherworldly.

Khaleb approached the pedestal with a mix of awe and trepidation, thinking that the artifact might be their salvation. He reached out, his fingers hovering over the ring. Feeling pulled by the artifact's beauty, Khaleb tried to take it. But the ring didn't budge, no matter how much force he used.

"Brother, have you found something?" Kaira asked after not finding anything useful.

"I found a ring, but I can't lift it," Khaleb replied, his words attracting his sisters' attention.

Kaira left the statue alone after not finding anything valuable on it. But as Faira passed before the statue, she stopped. Gazing at the unmoving stone man, her blue eyes flickered with an inner light.

"Don't your legs hurt from sitting for so long?" she asked all of a sudden.

At her simple question, at the words of an innocent child, the room trembled. The sky rumbled with the sound of thunder, and the gate between dimensions opened, allowing the message to pass and reach the soul that once inhabited the stoned body.

Initiating connection with the ancestor's soul...

Process complete.

The Void System's* voice echoed inside Faira's head from.

"Faira?" Kaira called, startled by the sudden tremor of the room.

No one dared to move, everyone afraid to not trigger a trap or mechanism that could make the stone ceiling collapse.

Beyond the vastness of the known sky, in another realm of a distant universe, a soul was called by the little girl's words. Living in peace between the stars, holding an entire galaxy in its palm, the soul resembling a handsome man opened its all seeing eyes, gazing at the cave from where the signal came.

Existing at the level where it could model and create its own world, the soul looked inside the child's heart, understanding her wants and needs. With a though, a request to the powers above was made, carrying with it the new desire of the soul.

The soul requests permission to leave the realm and reenter its old body remaining functional on Zenthara.

Condition required: Quest - Bloodline Protector

Description: Save Faira and the Mirha tribe from the Calabi's threat

Quest Grade: Unique

Time limit: 5 days

Rewards: Unlocking the gate for returning to the Vestral Plane

Warning! If the quest is not accepted, you will not receive permission to return to Zenthara. If the quest is not completed in the specified time, you will not be able to leave Zenthara and will be forced to live the mortal life in full. Suicide will be punished according to the Void System's rules.

[Accept] [Refuse]

"Accept!"

Congratulations, you have accepted the quest!

Permission to return to Zenthara - Granted

Astral Timer: 5 days

Calculating coordinates: Natural Evolution Oriented Planet- Zenthara, Dalighary desert, Azar Tora Daremon's body

At that moment, in the cave, the air buzzed with a low hum, a vibration that seemed to resonate deep in the siblings bones.

System Log: Soul Integration Process

Initiating Sequence: Loading Soul into Vessel

[00:00:00] SYSTEM START:

Soul Integration System (SIS): Initializing...

Soul Database (SD): Accessing...

Vessel Preparation (VP): Starting diagnostics...

[00:00:05] DIAGNOSTICS:

VP: Vessel integrity check - PASS

VP: Neural network synchronization - PASS

VP: Chakra alignment calibration - PASS

[00:00:10] SOUL RETRIEVAL:

SD: Identifying soul - ID: 74283-AZ

SD: Authenticating - PASS

SD: Retrieving soul data...

[00:00:15] SOUL LOADING SEQUENCE INITIATED:

SIS: Establishing connection to Vessel...

SIS: Energy channels opening...

SIS: Initiating soul transfer...

[00:00:20] TRANSFER PROGRESS:

SIS: Soul transfer initiated - 0%

SIS: Energy stabilization protocols - ENGAGED

[00:00:30] TRANSFER PROGRESS:

SIS: Soul transfer - 1%

SIS: Vessel adaptation in progress...

VP: Energy levels within acceptable range...

[00:00:40] TRANSFER PROGRESS:

SIS: Soul transfer - 4%

SIS: Monitoring vessel stability...

[00:00:45] ERROR DETECTED:

VP: Vessel integrity compromised!

VP: Energy overload detected!

SIS: Error code 78-OV: Vessel unable to withstand soul power.

[00:00:50] EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS ENGAGED:

SIS: Halting soul transfer...

SIS: Reversing energy flow...

VP: Attempting vessel stabilization...

[00:01:20] SYSTEM REPORT:

SIS: Soul integration successful at 4%.

VP: Vessel stable and functional.

SIS: Recommended monitoring period: 24 h for complete assessment.

End of Log

The statue trembled, shaking off the layer of dust covering it. Faira stepped back in fright.

"Sister!" she yelled.

Kaira ran towards her, sheltering Faira with her arms as she increased the distance between them and the statue.

"What happened?" Khaleb shouted, not having a good view of the statue but seeing clearly the frightened expressions of his sisters.

"It moves, Khaleb! The statue is alive," Kaira yelled.

Her brother ran to stand before them, facing the statue with a gun in hand.

Bone cracking sounds came from the statue as the joints moved after centuries of rest. The lungs screamed for air, and the man's chest heaved suddenly, his first breath of life in millenniums rattling like the wind through a forgotten crypt. He gasped, the sound harsh and raw, as if his lungs were relearning the act of breathing. His eyes, previously closed, fluttered open, revealing a flicker of consciousness in their bright blue color. He blinked against the sudden influx of light and sensation, his pupils dilating as they adjusted to the dim illumination of the chamber.

With another groan, the man began to move. His fingers twitched, sending small shards of stone scattering to the floor. He flexed his hands, feeling the blood course through his veins once more. His movements were slow and jerky, each motion accompanied by the grating sound of stone against stone, the remnants of his petrified form falling away in chunks.

As he shifted his weight, his legs trembled, muscles atrophied by centuries of disuse struggling to support him. He stumbled, catching himself against the altar, his breath coming in ragged, wheezing gasps. The sound of his breathing filled the chamber, a rhythmic, labored rasp that gradually steadied as his body remembered its old rhythm. Flux start circulating through his energetic channels, rapidly easing the pain, healing what could be healed, and re-establishing connections between nerves and tissues.

Finally, the man stood upright, his body now free of the last remnants of stone. He took a deep breath, savoring the cool, musty air of the chamber. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a triumphant declaration of life reclaimed. He glanced around, taking in his surroundings with a mix of wonder and confusion, the memories of his past life on Zenthara slowly resurfacing.

In that ancient, forgotten place, the man who had been stone for more then two-thousand years stood reborn, his senses alive with the sounds and sensations of a world he had long been absent from.

"Mmm, I've returned," Azar said, his voice resonating with a mix of nostalgia and fatigue.

"Who are you?" Khaleb demanded, immediately pointing his gun at Azar.

Azar’s brow furrowed as he saw the weapon, something foreign and out of place on Zenthara—at least in his time, it had no existence.

"Judging by the fact that I received your message, I’d say you are my proud descendants. So, I suppose I can introduce myself as your ancestor," Azar replied, raising his trembling hands to show his peaceful intentions.

"What kind of bullshit is this?" Khaleb snapped, his grip on the gun tightening. "You think I’m some kind of fool?"

"Not at all," Azar said calmly. "I truly returned after receiving your message."

"What are you talking about? I didn’t send you any message," Khaleb said, his finger hovering over the trigger.

"You didn’t," Azar acknowledged. "But the little girl behind you did." His voice softened. "I felt her intention when her words echoed in my consciousness. She asked if my legs were hurting from sitting for so long. Isn’t that right, my dear?" He looked towards Faira, who was hiding behind her elder sister, Kaira.

"I didn’t know you could hear me," Faira whispered, her voice small and timid, startling both Kaira and Khaleb.

"See? I wasn’t lying," Azar said, lowering his weary arms. "Now, point that thing away from me. In my current state, even a shock could be fatal."

"Don’t try to play us, man!" Khaleb warned, his grip on the pistol becoming almost desperate.

Azar sighed, shaking his head. "I am not your enemy, boy," he said, his patience wearing thin. "I returned to my old body to help you, though in this condition, I may not be of much use."

"I’ll ask you one last time—who are you, and what do you want from us?" Khaleb’s voice trembled slightly, fear creeping in.

Azar noticed and, wanting to prevent any unfortunate accidents, raised his hand slightly. With a mere thought, he disarmed Khaleb, pulling the weapon toward himself while holding the boy in place with his mental power.

"A Psychomancer?" Khaleb whispered in astonishment, his hope faltering. Now they were surely doomed.

Azar inspected the strange pistol, turning it over in his hands before aiming it at a wall. He fired, and a short neon pulse shot out, leaving a small hole and burnt marks behind.

"What is this thing?" Azar asked, glancing at the siblings.

When no one responded, Azar pursed his lips, letting out a tired sigh. He released Khaleb from his hold and handed back the weapon without leaving his place. "I mean you no harm, but if you’re too stubborn to listen, do as you wish." He spread his arms wide, offering himself as a target. "I’ll only live for five days anyway. Returning home a little early isn’t a problem."

The siblings stared at Azar, too stunned to act.

"If you’re not going to shoot me, could you at least tell me what that weapon is?" Azar asked, growing impatient with their silence. "Are we just going to stand here and stare at each other for five days?"

"It’s a Neon Reaver*," Khaleb finally answered after a tense pause.

"A Neon Reaver?" Azar repeated, the name foreign to him. Despite his extensive knowledge, some things were still beyond his grasp, especially with only 4% of his soul’s memories intact. "How does it work?"

Khaleb exchanged a glance with Kaira before offering what little explanation he could. "It’s loaded with flux and neon cells. They combine to create the pulse it fires..."

Azar waited in silence, realizing he couldn’t expect much more from them. "…Thank you," he said, his tone conveying a quiet resignation.

"If Syed* means us no harm, could you tell us who you are?" Kaira asked, her voice steady as the tension began to ease.

Azar let out a sigh.

"My name is Azar Tora Daremon," he responded, his tone both proud and wistful. "I served as the leader of Tora- one of the Six Great Clans- for two lifetimes. In my third, I chose to leave this world early, sealing my body here so future generations could communicate with my soul. Only that i didn't have many to guide, in the later years no one bothered to address a question to me. You can’t imagine my joy when I finally heard your call after so long. Why had no one come to speak with me before? Has the Tora Clan grown so arrogant that they’ve forgotten to honor their founder?"

"...Azar Syed, forgive us," Kaira replied honestly, though her answer made her brother nervous. In Khaleb's mind, it seemed safer to lie than risk angering the Psychomancer before them. "We don't know what Tora is."

"What do you mean you don't know what Tora is?" Azar’s expression darkened, and Khaleb’s anxiety spiked.

Kaira, sensing the danger, knew the truth was their only option. "We are from the Mirha tribe. We have no connection with Tora."

"Impossible," Azar said firmly. "If you didn’t possess my blood, it would’ve been impossible for you to summon me." He sat down on the altar, his legs trembling from the strain. "Tora is one of the Six Great Clans on Zenthara. It’s not possible that you haven’t heard of it."

Swallowing hard, Khaleb gathered his courage. "Syed, forgive us, but we only know of the Five Great Clans," he said, realizing his mistake only when Azar’s gaze bore into his soul.

After a few moments, a sudden noise echoed from the tunnel where Khaleb and his sisters had came from, breaking the tense silence and drawing Azar’s awareness back from Khaleb's mind, his face now somber.

"Syed, we are being pursued by people who want to kill my brother and take my sister and me as slaves," Kaira explained. "We won't dare question your identity any longer, so please, If you truly are our ancestor, save us from them?"

Azar laughed softly. "You’re wise, girl. You understand survival, but beware. That wisdom can be your greatest asset or your downfall. Never cross the line, never sell your soul, and never kill your heart just to live a few more years. If you do, you’ll lose yourself and become a hollow shadow, driven by anger and frustration."

The siblings remained silent, absorbing his words. After a moment, Azar continued.

"I have returned to this body and desert with the intention of helping the little one who reached out to me. I didn’t expect to possess only a fraction of the power I once had. But don’t worry—I will protect you with everything I have, or I will die trying. May the Void System grant me enemies my feeble body can handle."

"Are you really my ancestor?" Faira asked hesitantly from behind her sister.

Azar opened his mouth to reply, but the sound of a voice echoed from the tunnel, interrupting him.

"There's a light over there," the voice said.