Esdeath and Maruti continue their journey once again, walking and sometimes running on feet, covering up distance as fast as they could.
The afternoon turned into evening and soon, the sun went down slowly, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The moon started peeking through the clouds, surrounded by uncountable stars that glittered like diamonds on black velvet.
Esdeath and Maruti already knew that they are now very, very close to their destination. And true to their thoughts, the vast forest came to an end abruptly, as if cut by an invisible knife.
What lay in front of them was something like a vast landscape of desert, but it didn't look like a normal desert at all.
Maruti walks forward, standing between the border between Terra Divina and river sand of flowless time. One step up and she would have sand below her, and one step back, there was dirt ground of forest. The transition was stark, unnatural.
She slowly leans down and grabs a small amount of sand in her hand, looking at it curiously. The sand was fine and soft, slipping through her fingers like liquid.
The sand was quite different—grey-white in color and more soft than sand, like... like it was ashes instead of sand.
She looks towards the front as far as she could. The moonlight was pouring down on the land below, illuminating it with an ethereal glow.
The vast white desert looked never-ending, stretching to the horizon in every direction. There were weird transparent crystals growing out of the sand in weird shapes. Some were blue, some were light red while some were colorless, but the shape of them indicated like they were 'cactuses' of this desert.
But what's most unique thing was the 'swirling' and 'sand shift.'
At some distances, there was slow sand shift happening, but from a distance, it looked like the sand itself was moving, flowing like a river. It created an almost near-real illusion, no wonder it has 'River' in its name.
Meanwhile, there were many swirling happening in the sand. Sand circling like a whirlpool, some were small, some were big like hurricanes happening. They rose and fell like breaths, the sand dancing in intricate patterns.
"Hmm... It's name should've been land of ashes instead," Maruti says, her voice filled with wonder.
"It's not ashes," Esdeath adds flatly, taking her first step on the sand. Her foot sank slightly, then found purchase on the strange surface.
She opens her arms, making a T shape with her body, "Look, our goal is to claim two things. First is Rank A time cutting edge and second one would either be offensive or defensive space path Essence stone. If we find more useful things, then it's even more good," she says, her voice clear and determined.
"Heh!... You mean 'your' goal?" Maruti shrugs, a smirk playing on her lips.
But Esdeath ignores her words and continues, her focus unwavering. "We got recipe of Rank A cutting edge, so either we find one or collect the resources from recipe to refine one. I'm not gonna go back unless I, at least, am able to do S rank killer move—Time cutting edge," she declares, her eyes burning with intensity.
With that, she claps her hands together with an excited smile, her usual composed demeanor momentarily replaced by raw enthusiasm.
And why would she not be? She would get even stronger, plus she'll get to meet Lortell again once this is all over.
Of course, one another reason was Maruti's Halo of Happiness. Esdeath was a bit close to Maruti these days; its effect was starting to show on her, softening some of her sharper edges.
Esdeath wasn't done yet. She continues her speech, "But before we go, there's few things you must know—"
She was saying but all of a sudden, a huge amount of pain ran through her body, especially the heart. It was hurting like it might burst at any moment. The pain was sharp, unexpected, stealing her breath.
Before Esdeath could even think, she instinctively clenches her chest with her fist and kneels on ground in pain. Her face contorted in agony, her body trembling.
And second, she vomits a hafty amount of blood on spot, the dark liquid staining the white sand around her.
Even Maruti panicked a little, her eyes widening in shock. She clearly had no idea what was going on.
"Fuck, what happened? Want me to heal?" Maruti asks, rushing to Esdeath's side, her hands hovering uncertainly.
Without waiting for Esdeath's response, Maruti uses light magic to heal Esdeath.
A golden colored light shines from Maruti's palm as she touches Esdeath's back. The warm glow spread across Esdeath's skin, a stark contrast to the pale moonlight of the desert.
There was a difference between Esdeath's time path healing method and actual healing.
Esdeath actually doesn't heal but her body echoes in a state of time where she was never hurt at all, thus healing herself. It was a manipulation of time rather than true restoration.
While usually healing from light magic or essence stones ensured that whatever weakness, illness, wound, or curse inflicted upon the person would get healed thoroughly. It was a more direct approach to mending the body.
Of course, not like this level of light magic was going to solve Esdeath's problem at all. The issue ran deeper than mere physical injury.
Esdeath casually shrugs off Maruti's hand from her back and finally spoke, "There's no need, it won't work anyway," she says with a sigh, her voice strained but composed.
With a push, she stands up again and explains about her situation to Maruti again.
Actually, it was not a new problem but an old one—the weak heart problem. She wanted the heart of a dragon to enhance her heart so that it can withstand the amount of mana stored in it, or even surpass it. It was a solution she'd been seeking for some time.
But in the middle of it, she died and then resurrected back in a whole new body. But still, this new body was the same as old one in its fundamental weakness.
Only difference was that she now has second awakening, thus her body was quite stronger. As the powers of second awakening were settling, her body was completely fine, adapting to the increased power.
But again, as after settling down, her growth was increasing day by day. So her mana capacity—she was naturally reaching near S rank level by herself, her potential expanding beyond her physical limitations.
Thus, her heart once again started to give out and started showing signs of dysfunction. And this sudden pain and blood vomit was one of the reasons, a warning sign that her body couldn't keep up with her growing power.
That's why sleeping was another dangerous thing for her now. Because once asleep, the body goes into natural stealth mode, all the mana gets stored inside the heart. Who knows, she might get a heart attack or even heart might explode while she's sleeping.
Still, her condition wasn't gone this worse yet. It was manageable, for now.
"I'm gonna go hunt a dragon once I go back, with Lortell helping me, it won't take much time," Esdeath says, clenching her fist with determination.
"Dragon... dragon heart... Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something," Maruti murmurs to herself but doesn't remember what she was trying to remember. It was like a word on the tip of her tongue, elusive and frustrating.
"Well if it's something important, then I'll remember it anyway," with that thought, she focuses on Esdeath again, pushing the nagging feeling aside.
"What were you saying before all this?" she asks, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Ohh yes... Actually those swirling happening in the sand and that sand shift, both are dangerous to go near it. Like its name, this place is deeply connected to time, and the time distorts around those swirling. It has gravity force as well. Those with mana gets pulled by invisible gravity around it, while sand shift disrupts our mana circuit. The more you walk in it, the more our mana circuit will get damaged," Esdeath explains, her expression serious as she gestures toward the strange phenomena in the distance.
"And alas... the rare essence stones are often found in there," she adds, a wry smile on her face.
"Another win for normal humans then, they won't have to worry about both of them," she sighs, shaking her head at the irony.
But again, how could mere humans even think of coming here alive? Unless they were brought as slaves, their lives forfeit before they even stepped foot in this dangerous land.
"Let's go," Maruti says, taking the lead this time. Her movements were confident, her earlier concern replaced by curiosity.
She takes her first step and second and third steps. As her foot lands on the third step, she feels something poking her foot from the sand. It was sharp, unexpected.
She immediately leans down and thrusts her hand below her foot and pulls away.
There was a strange seashell-type stone there. It was smooth and pearlescent, with intricate patterns that seemed to shift in the moonlight.
And it was no normal one but actually an essence stone.
Rank D Bell ring essence stone—it produced loud ringing of bell whenever used. A useful tool for disorientation or signaling.
It was just there, laying inside like trash, discarded and forgotten in the vast expanse of the desert.
After walking a few more steps, she found few more essence stones. This time, both Rank D and Rank E. They littered the sand like ordinary pebbles, their value disproportionate to their abundance.
She thought for a second and kicks the sand with a powerful kick. A huge amount of sand flew up, but with them, several essence stones flew up in the air. The illuminating light of the moon making them glow a little, like stars fallen to earth.
She just couldn't help but chuckle, the sound echoing in the stillness of the desert night.
Maruti already remember that Esdeath had already told her that essence stones were very common in Terra Divina, specially in river sand of flowless time. But seeing it with her own eyes was quite... overwhelming.
They were just about fifteen steps inside, yet so many.
"Hahaha... If it would've been before, I would've been jumping around shouting, 'We are rich... We are now damn rich'," she says, kicking the sand once more, her laughter filled with genuine delight.
But then out of nowhere, she feels heat on her skin and then bright fiery light appears besides her. The sudden warmth was startling in the cool night air of the desert.
She as turns to look in hurry, she realizes that it was just Esdeath. She was releasing a massive ball of fire into the sky for apparently no reason. The flames rose high, illuminating the white sands in an orange glow before dissipating into the darkness.
She narrows her eyes asking, "What are you doing?" her voice filled with confusion.
"Just expanding my mana, it'll make me feel better," Esdeath replies without sparing her a look, her concentration focused on the magic she was weaving.
After a few more spheres of fire, Esdeath takes the lead this time, walking at front.
After walking for a few minutes, Maruti asks, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
"Is there any destination where we need to go?"
Esdeath shook her head, "Not really, just go deeper until we find essence stones or S rank 'Year Beast.' But I think we should rather focus on finding humans instead. They must have collected huge amounts of essence stones. We can happily reap their hard work without gulping, haha..." she replies, laughing in an evil but joking way.
"Evil bitch," Maruti couldn't help but chuckle as well, shaking her head at Esdeath's straightforward approach to things.
Soon enough, they were surrounded by so many crystals growing out of the sands. Some shapes like cactus while some had inhuman shapes, twisting and reaching up like frozen dancers.
Maruti couldn't help but stare at them from a bit away, of course thinking what kind of future she would see if she looked at one? .
"Wanna look? You can, but don't let it get to your mind. The future won't necessarily happen no matter what you see. Of course you might see the past as well," Esdeath says, pointing at the blue colored crystal. It pulsed with a gentle light, as if beckoning them closer.
"This one most likely shows your best possible future," she says, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
But Maruti immediately shakes her head, "No thanks, I would rather look at worst possible future instead. I mean after seeing ideal future, if it would not happen in future, then I would get upset. So anything better than my worst future would be a good thing right?" she explains, her logic twisted but somehow sound to her.
Esdeath paused for a second and says, "If you look at your worst future then most likely that future will await you," her expression serious, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"What? You're joking right?" Maruti almost shouts, grabbing her head with her hands.
Esdeath chuckles again, "I am,"
"Fuck you!" Maruti shows middle finger out annoyance and starts walking.
Meanwhile, Esdeath also fastens her pace to catch up to her.
But then, something unexpected happens. There was a crystal growing out like so many others, but this one was colorless, like a smoky mirror.
Some particles of shining dust was flowing out of it, reaching towards Esdeath's thighs. The dust sparkled in the moonlight, tiny motes of light dancing in the air.
Even Esdeath was feeling something weird in her pocket. She stops immediately with confused expression and takes out something.
It was a medal-like locket, with a drawing of a woman on a withered flower similar to a lotus. Her figure was flowing above like she was sitting on it.
It was the same locket that she found in the illusory inheritance back at the academy. She always took it with her but didn't know what its use was. It seemed nothing more than an ordinary locket.
But right now, it was also glowing in dark green radiance.
Meanwhile, Maruti senses that Esdeath wasn't following. She stops as well, turning around to see what Esdeath was doing.
Esdeath just stared at it for a few seconds and then, as if instinctively, she reaches near that colorless crystal.
And it turns out, the shimmering dust particles wasn't coming out from that crystal but actually the locket instead. It was getting absorbed by that colorless crystal, the connection between them undeniable and mysterious.
Now that Esdeath was much closer to it, the whole medal turns into fragments of light and gets absorbed by the colorless crystal. The process was swift, final, leaving nothing behind but the echo of what once was.
But unknown to them or anyone, there was one more mysterious locket in the hands of Ethan, and both of them were connected.
Thus, somewhere in the desert kingdom, the same reaction was starting to happen there as well.