Chapter 26 Trials

• The desert seemed both endless and ever-changing, its shifting sands a reminder of the uncertainties we faced. The scepter, now safely secured in Melange's pack, pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow, a beacon guiding us forward.
• "Stay alert," Thorne advised, his eyes scanning the horizon. "If Aric was only the beginning, we need to be prepared for anything."
• We moved as a tight unit, each of us keeping a watchful eye on our surroundings. The journey was grueling, the heat of the sun relentlessly.