Chapter 510

• Even with sore feet, burning lungs, and the imminent feeling of fainting from exhaustion, I didn’t stop. I couldn’t, not until I knew the truth. My steps became progressively smaller and slower as my energy waned after hours of running nonstop. Drowsiness began to take over my body, which was already showing signs of extreme fatigue. My thoughts and spirit were my fuel, the only reason I could keep going... the urgent need to discover the truth.
• “Have I arrived?” I thought, confused. I had no idea how long I had persisted in moving forward, only that the new day was already showing signs of coming to an end. I had passed all the landmarks, but in front of me, there was nothing but a vast expanse of red sand, as if my beloved city had been completely swallowed up. How was this possible?
• I ran across the sand, counting my steps, looking for my teacher’s home. That big city couldn’t have just disappeared. Maybe it was underneath everything. Ignoring my muscle fatigue, I started digging. The sand was cold, but the wind outside was even colder. This wasn’t how I remembered this place. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. The weather was pleasant, the breeze was warm, the land was fertile, completely opposite to this.