Level Up Legacy - Chapter 1337: Sand Temple

While the two were uniting their love with an eternal promise, the world was still facing countless threats every day. Traveling in the deserts of Sourna were two women wearing cloaks to shield them from the sun.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Rain again, turning to the princess. “If we work with the sand thieves, you are as good as a rebel. The Wisemen might notice your movements.”

“If the man we spoke to said the truth, then the Wisemen have already betrayed Sourna to work with Deluge,” answered Sapphire while her eyes squinted behind her veil. They shone with dangerous lights. “The wisemen can no longer be trusted to uphold the safety of Sourna. I must speak to my father.”

Rain nodded as she focused on the path ahead. Alaric has called them and told them what happened in Sourna. The two changed direction and headed to the palace once they knew that Valeria has been caught by the guards.

Diana and Alaric fought against Deluge and the Palace Guards to save the sand thieves. Alaric has also revealed the existence of Rolan, who was defeated by Diana. The situation turned out to be a mess, but their goal was within reach.

Valeria was in Hikma.

Alaric apologized that he had to abandon her and escape. Diana seemed to have sustained heavy injuries which explains why Arthur lost control and disabled their runes. However, Rain couldn’t blame the pirate for choosing to save Diana over Valeria.

As long as they reach her before Deluge, they had a chance to escape his grasp. Their current destination was not Hikma, but the base of the sand thieves next to the town Raheem attacked. They wanted to work with them in order to take down the Wisemen.

Their journey has been arduous, as the sand thieves did not reveal themselves to others. Rain wanted to contact Arthur to ask about their base, but Alaric said he was on vacation with Diana.

The lucky bastard.

Rain did not feel offended that Arthur went on a vacation in the midst of her search for Valeria. After knowing what happened to Diana and how he lost control, Rain knew the best thing he could do at the moment was to take a short vacation to relax.

“We have been looking for days, and still nothing,” said Sapphire with a frown as she stopped walking. “What if the sand thieves have moved bases?”

“We would have to keep looking even if that happened. We need their strength to attack Hikma, remember? We must work with them to strike the Wisemen. Although they have failed the assassination attempt, they are still capable.”

“You’re right,” Sapphire sighed, the frustration in her voice barely masked. “But I can’t help but feel like we’re wandering aimlessly in this desert. What if this is all for nothing?”

Rain placed a reassuring hand on Sapphire’s shoulder. “It won’t be for nothing. We have to believe in what we’re doing. Arthur wouldn’t have sent us here if it wasn’t important. We’ll find them, and when we do, we’ll make them listen.”

Sapphire nodded, though doubt still lingered in her mind. The sun beat down on them mercilessly, its heat adding to the weariness that threatened to overtake them. They continued their march through the unforgiving sands, the landscape around them a monotonous sea of dunes. The wind began to pick up, whipping sand into the air and making it difficult to see.

“We need to find shelter,” Rain shouted over the rising howl of the wind. “A sandstorm is coming!”

Sapphire shielded her eyes with her arm, trying to peer through the swirling sand. “I can’t see anything! There’s no shelter in sight!”

The wind howled louder, drowning out their voices as the sandstorm engulfed them. The world around them became a blur of tan and orange, and it felt like they were walking through a cloud of dust. The sand stung their skin as it lashed at them, forcing them to huddle together and push forward blindly.

Rain kept a firm grip on Sapphire’s hand, pulling her along as they struggled to move against the storm. Every step was a battle, the sand pulling at their feet as if trying to drag them down. It seemed like hours passed before the wind began to die down, the roar of the storm fading to a whisper.

Finally, the sandstorm passed, leaving them standing in the midst of a now-calm desert. Rain and Sapphire stood panting, their cloaks tattered and faces covered in sand. As they caught their breath, Rain’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Look!” she said, pointing ahead.

Sapphire followed her gaze and gasped. In the distance, where there had been nothing but dunes before, now stood a towering structure partially buried in the sand—a temple. Its ancient stone walls were worn and cracked, but it still held an air of power and mystery.

“That wasn’t there before,” Sapphire said, her voice filled with awe and suspicion.

Rain shook her head. “The storm must have uncovered it. Or perhaps it’s been here all along, hidden by the desert.”

With renewed determination, they made their way towards the temple. As they approached, they noticed strange symbols etched into the stone, symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint light. The entrance was a large archway, shadowed and foreboding, yet it seemed to beckon them inside.

“Do you think this is it?” Sapphire whispered, her voice filled with a mix of fear and excitement.

“It has to be,” Rain replied. “Let’s go.”

They stepped inside, the air immediately cooler as they were enveloped by the darkness of the temple’s interior. The faint light from the entrance barely illuminated the path ahead, but they could make out large stone columns and intricate carvings on the walls. The atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating, as if the very air was thick with ancient secrets.

They hadn’t gone far when they heard a voice echo through the chamber. “Who dares enter the domain of the Sand Thieves?”

Rain and Sapphire stopped in their tracks as a figure emerged from the shadows. A tall man, with a presence that radiated authority and danger, stood before them. His skin was tanned from years in the desert, and his eyes were sharp, like a predator’s. He wore a cloak similar to theirs, but his was adorned with symbols of power and command.

“I am Thorne, leader of the Sand Thieves,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “State your purpose, or face the consequences.”

Rain stepped forward cautiously, her voice steady but her mind racing. “We seek an alliance with you, Thorne. We need your help to bring down the Wisemen who have betrayed Sourna.”

Thorne’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “And who are you to come here and ask for our help? You speak of betrayal, but how do I know you are not here to betray us?”

Rain hesitated, glancing at Sapphire. This was the moment they had been dreading, the moment they would have to reveal the truth. Sapphire took a deep breath and stepped forward, pulling back her hood to reveal her face.

“My name is Sapphire,” she began, her voice calm but filled with determination. “I am the Princess of Sourna.”

Thorne’s eyes widened in shock, but the surprise quickly turned to anger. “A princess? The very royalty that has hunted us down, stolen our lands, and left us to rot in this desert? And you expect me to believe you have come here seeking our help?”

Rain quickly stepped in, sensing the danger. “Thorne, please listen. We’re here because we need each other. The Wisemen are no longer serving the kingdom; they’ve allied with Deluge, and they’re controlling my people from within.”

Thorne’s expression darkened, his hand drifting towards the hilt of his sword. “So, this is a trap, then? You think I’ll fall for the words of a princess who has benefited from the very system that has oppressed us?”

“No!” Sapphire’s voice rang out, strong and clear. “I know what my family has done to your people, and I can’t undo the past. But I swear to you, Thorne, I am not here as a princess seeking to further her kingdom’s power. I am here because I love my people, all of them, including those who have been wronged. If we do not stop Deluge and the Wisemen, there will be nothing left of Sourna for any of us.”

Thorne’s eyes bore into hers, searching for any sign of deception. For a long moment, the chamber was filled with nothing but the tension between them, thick enough to cut through.

Finally, Thorne spoke, his voice cold and unyielding. “You ask for our help, but you come here with the blood of our people on your hands. Why should I trust anything you say? Why should I not strike you down where you stand?”

Rain felt a chill run down her spine. This was going wrong, and she could see that Sapphire’s revelation had only made things worse. “Thorne, please,” she pleaded. “We were sent here by Arthur Netherborne. He has a vision for a new Sourna, one where the people are free from both the Wisemen and the Royal Family’s control. We want to work with you, not against you.”