Legacy of the Betelgeuse

Something is moving under the sand and everyone is readying their weapons, then they realize that we are surrounded by those things that are moving under the sand. They haven't realized that the sand under our feet is slowly sinking, then a dozen massive rattling snakes raise from the sand with the Cursed Soul of the Pasheer people standing on top of the snakes' heads. Not just rattling snakes, but also desert scorpions are surfacing from the sand that is three times bigger than a human body. The Cursed Soul of the Pasheer people's faces are covered with scarves, but we can see that their foreheads are so dry that we can see the cracks on their skins. Their eyes are pitch black without pupils. 

I look at Azrael.

"Azrael, it's time for you to gain more level."

Azrael flying around me.

"Yes, master!"

Azrael then charges at the rattling snake and he dodges all the attacks then uses [Cold Breath] while biting and slashing the rattling snake with his claws. It's super effective since all the monsters here are weak against the ice element. His passive skill [Chill Aura] really weakened the snakes and the scorpions around him. In just a few minutes, Azrael kills most of the monsters. Everyone is speechless from witnessing how strong Azrael is even though the monsters are above level 300. Suddenly the rest of the monsters are retreating and then disappear into the sand. Ivonna and the others haven't even lifted their weapons and yet the monsters are already gone.

Everyone is looking at me with disbelief and I'm just smiling. Emma tilts her head while sheathing her sword.

"Well, I guess we don't have to worry about the monsters in the desert since Azrael will take care of them easily."

Everyone sighs and nods. Grisell then looks at me.

"Trev, you can ride Azrael, right? Why don't you go and fly to find the Oasis? You already learn the portal skill right? Isn't it going to take us only a few days if you can find it and then open the portal for us?"

Everyone is humming and just realizes that what Grisell said has a point. I'm tilting my head and raise my hands.

"Why should I do that? Aren't we are all here to explore the map? If I do everything by myself, where's the fun in it? I also need to rise Azrael's level so I prefer to find the Oasis by walk while killing the monsters here."

Everyone is a bit disappointed except for Chelsea who's just looking at them with a weird look. Ivonna then looks at the others.

"Come on, guys. We can't keep asking for his help right? Would you like to be asked to do everything by the others when you just want to enjoy the game?"

Chelsea sighs while nodding with agreement.

"What's the problem with going to explore the desert by walk? He already helped us from removing the debuff on us, and now you guys want some more from him?"

Everyone is nodding with understanding. Ivonna then looks at the map.

"Come on, don't waste the time and keep walking. We need to find the Oasis."

(Two weeks later of in-game time.)

We are making a small camp in the middle of the desert. It's been a very tiring journey for us but it's worth it for me since Azrael's level is skyrocketing and I couldn't ask for more because of the weekly event he raised his level more than I expected and I'm already satisfied with the result even though I shared the monsters with the others so they could level up their own level and their Amruchis.

[Name: Azrael (Specter Wulf) [Fledgling]

Azrael's Status:

Level: 312

HP: 41.500

STA: 10.500

ATK: 9.800

DEF: 5.100

MDEF: 6.400

Azrael's evolution: 1/3

Growth: 1745/5000

Intimacy: Loyal

Bonus status(s): All Stats+30, Damage Output +5%, Critical Damage +10%

Passive Skill(s): Chill Aura (Lv.3), Frost Canines (Lv.3), Razor-sharp Claws (Lv.3), Enrage (Lv.3), Double Attack (Lv.1), Open Wounds (Lv.1), Fast Regeneration (Lv.1), Frozen Solid Skin (Lv.1)]

Active Skill(s): Blizzard Blitz (Lv.2), Cold Breath (Lv.3), Fear (Lv.3), Spectral Form (Lv.1), Needle-Ice Fur (Lv.1), Extreme Cold (Lv.1)]

Emma gets out of her tent and stretches her arms while yawning. She runs her eyes and then she looks at me near the campfire. She then sits next to me and looks at the others' tents.

"Everyone still asleep?"

I'm nodding while keeping adding a stick into the fire.

"I guess so, yeah. The weather this evening is quite nice, so I think every one is getting too comfortable with the weather and keep sleeping."

Emma is humming with understanding and then puts her hands near the fire.

"Are we close to the Oasis, Trev?"

I'm looking at the stars and pointing at one of the stars.

"By the look of the stars, we are only a few miles away from the Oasis. Do you see the star I'm pointing at? That star is exactly above where the Oasis is at, so we are close and on the right track."

Emma is humming with understanding and then leans on my shoulder. I look at her and raise my eyebrows.

"Are you still sleepy? If so, you should get some more. I think it will take a while until everyone is awake."

Emma is not replying and so I take a peek at her face and she's already asleep. I scoff and shake my head while keeping the fire on.

After Emma is in a deep sleep, I carry her to her tent so she can sleep comfortably. I go out and I check everyone's tents, they're still asleep. When I'm checking Michael and the others in the same tent, I hear a rustling sound coming from behind me. I immediately look back and there's a person standing behind my tent. I tilt my head and squinting my eyes because I can't see clearly because the campfire is blocking my vision.

"Hello? Who's there? You can come closer if you want to warm yourself."

The person is slowly walking toward the campfire and it seems that he's an NPC by the look of his attire. He looks at me scaredly.

"Is it safe?"

I nod.

"Yeah, you're safe here. Don't worry."

The NPC looks at me and it seems that he still doesn't believe me.

"Palai loo ha?"

I smile and nod.

"Palai loo ha mun."

The NPC immediately sighs with relief and then sits near the campfire. I'm finally able to see his face, and he looks so pale and his lips are so dry that I think he hasn't drink anything. I grab my flask from my inventory and then give it to him. He's surprised and then aggressively grabs the flask and then drinks all the water in it.

He stands up and then grabs his bag and searches for something inside. He grabs a book from his bag and then walks toward me and offers me the book.

"Take it... this is the most valuable thing that I have on me. I will give this to you as gratitude..."

[Book of Sahuurn obtained!]

I look at the brown and gold cover of the book and there's nothing else written on the cover. I check the back of the book and there's a symbol of an eye with a small green gemstone as the eye's pupil. This is the first time I see this book, and I can tell that this is very valuable. I open the book and this is written in Pasheer Language. Thankfully, I understand this language.

"What is this bo..."

The NPC disappears. I look around and there's no sight of him, I look down and my flask is on the ground, and when I grab it, I'm confused because the flask is still full. Ivonna then comes out from her tent.

"Who are you talking to, Trev? I heard you're talking."

I put the book on my back and shake my head.

"No, I was just looking at the forums."

Ivonna is humming with understanding and sits near the campfire. She's not saying a single word but I can tell that she's thinking about something while staring at the ember. I raise my eyebrow and smirk while looking at her.

"You can tell me if you have something to say, Ivonna."

Ivonna is startled and looks at me.

"Am I that obvious?"

I nod.

"Yeah. I can tell from your expression."

Ivonna then fixes her hair and smiles. I look at her right forehead and it seems that she removes the scar from her forehead, and yet she still hides it with her hair for no reason. I guess that's already become her habit.

"Yeah... I'm just curious if I'm on the right path to finding the next clue..."

I raise my eyebrows while holding my chuckle.

"No, you're not."

Ivonna scoffs and chuckles.

"Damn it..."