Orpheus staggered through the dunes, each step heavier than the last.
His throat was dry, his vision blurred, and his chest burned as though his very soul was peeling away.
"How much longer…?"
"Is this sand truly endless?"
The thought repeated in his head like a broken song.
His knees buckled, and for a moment he thought the sand would claim him, that he would sink and vanish into the endless emptiness.
But then, the horizon shifted.
A vast, black expanse of water appeared before him, stretching endlessly, its surface unnaturally still.
The River Styx.
Without hesitation, he forced his legs to move as he ran towards his goal.
The place where oaths are bound and souls are weighed. The sight of it made his legs finally give way, and he collapsed onto the sand near the river.
His body trembled as he tried to breathe, every inch of him aching. His muscles were exhausted, his spirit frayed. Even his heart, strong with longing, felt as though it was nearing its final beat.
