A burning shhhhk! sliced through the air.
A flaming arrow shot from the horizon, piercing straight into the sandworm's eye. The beast recoiled, screeching in blind pain.Aki's eyes widened.
Figures appeared over the dune — three of them.A tall man in leather armor, a bow still drawn and smoke rising from his arrowhead.A robed mage crackling with swirling mana.
And a swordswoman with dual blades glowing faintly, sand whipping around her feet.
[Archer]:" Boros, Mina, let's finish it!"The swordswoman dashed in first, slashing at the exposed wound Aki had created. The mage thrust his staff forward, releasing a jet of scorching fire that blasted the worm's side. The archer rained arrows like falling stars, each one striking a weak spot.
The Great Sandworm tried to burrow-But the swordswoman leapt, spinning in midair, and drove both blades straight into its skull.The entire monster shuddered—then collapsed in a cloud of sand.
Aki tried to push himself off the sand, but his body refused to listen. His stamina was completely drained, his mana hollowed out. His arms trembled uselessly beneath him. His vision swam, colours smearing together, and his eyelids felt as heavy as bricks.
The three adventurers slowly approached him—boots crunching into the sand. The archer lowered his bow, slinging it across his back.
Archer: smirking slightly "Hey, kid… looks like we showed up at the perfect time. The big guy must have wondered far from its nest."
Aki let out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding. Relief washed over him so hard his knees gave out completely. The last spark of strength slipped away, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
Aki's senses slowly faded back in. He felt something hard beneath his back—a wooden surface that trembled rhythmically. The vibration pulsed through his spine. Was he… moving?
His vision slowly sharpened. Sunlight filtered through his lashes, and when he fully opened his eyes, he realized he was lying in the back of a horse-drawn cart. The steady thump-thump of hooves and the creak of wooden wheels filled his ears.
He pushed himself up to sit. Ahead of him were the three people who had saved his life. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. What was he supposed to say? Thanks for stopping me from becoming worm food? Nothing sounded right.
The mage held the reins at the front of the cart, guiding it smoothly. The archer and the swordswoman walked alongside with casual confidence—like they'd done this a thousand times.
And then Aki noticed something else:
The desert was gone.
Instead of endless sand, an open grassland stretched around them. Gentle wind rippled through tall green blades, and a dirt path cut cleanly through the field. A decorated carriage traveled just ahead of their cart, painted with bright colors and polished metal fixtures that gleamed in the sunlight.
The archer glanced back and caught Aki staring.[Archer]:" Well, look who's awake. Enjoy your little nap?"
Aki nodded quietly, still processing everything. [Aki thinking]:" What the hell's going on. I must keep my guard up just incase they try something."
The other two adventurers turned toward Aki as Boros brought the cart to a slow stop. The carriage ahead also halted, dust settling around the wheels. [Aki very shyly]:" W-who...Are y-you...guys."
Boros hopped down from the driver's seat while the other two gathered behind the cart. [Archer]:" We are adventurers from Justia. I'm Kiel, the mage is Boris and the lady is Mina. Together we're the Blue Mist party." [Boros with a calm voice]:" So kid,why were you alone at the desert, what's your name and where do you come from?"
Aki froze. His mind went blank. The questions hit him too fast. [Mina hitting Boros on his head]:" Stop interrogating him, you rock-headed ox. The boy almost died. He's probably still in shock."
She turned to Aki with a softer voice.
"Don't mind Boris—he asks questions like he's paid for it. You're lucky we were escorting that merchant—" she points to the decorated carriage "—and found you before something took a bite out of you. We're heading toward the Justia Kingdom. The Eastern Village shouldn't be far."
Her voice soothed Aki… though she had thrown way too much information at him at once.He took a breath and chose to speak anyway. [Aki avoiding eye contact]:" Th-thanks for saving me. I'm Aki Toshiba. I'm… uh… not from around here. I wanted to join the Adventurers' Guild… but I got lost on the way and ended up in the desert." He inhaled deeply, hoping his lie sounded believable enough.
[Kiel chuckling]:" You must've taken one hell of a wrong turn, kid."
Before anyone could reply, the carriage door opened with a click. A plump middle-aged man dressed in embroidered desert-style robes stepped out, wiping sweat from his forehead. His gold rings glinted in the sunlight.
[Merchant]:" Everything all right back here? Why did we stop?" [Mina]:" The kid woke up. Just making sure he's okay."
The merchant's eyes brightened with relief.[Merchant]: "Ah! The worm survivor! Good, good. Alive customers are always better than dead ones—dead ones don't buy things."Kiel snorted. [Kiel]:" He's not your customer."[Merchant]:" Not yet! Strong-looking young men always need equipment. Food. Maps. Maybe protection charms? I have excellent deals—discounts for near-death victims!"
Aki blinked, completely thrown off.
[Aki thinking]: "Is… is this guy serious?" Boros sighed.[Boros]:" He's fine, merchant. Can we move? We've daylight to use." [Merchant]:" Yes, yes, of course. But if the boy wants to ride in the carriage instead of the cart, I offer excellent cushion seats. Only a small fee—"
[Mina]:" Stop trying to sell things to injured people."The merchant pouted. [Merchant]:" Fine, fine. But the offer stands!" He climbed back into the carriage, humming cheerfully.Kiel leaned closer to Aki with a smirk. [Kiel]:" Welcome to Justia, kid. You'll get used to weird people real fast."
The carriage rolled through the Eastern Village, its wheels clattering gently over the cobblestones. At the far end of the village rose an enormous wall—towering, stone-gray, and stretching as far as Aki could see. The trio explained that the great barrier encircled the entire kingdom.
As they approached, the massive metal gates groaned open. A guard strode toward the merchant's carriage, exchanged a few words, inspected a document, then stepped aside, allowing them to pass.