X-5: Guide

"How much further do we have to go?"

"About half a day."

In the great sand dunes of Terdin, two figures marched despite the blazing heat, each covered head to toe in loose fitting garb. The first figure looked large and intimidating through all his clothing but without it he was mostly skin and bones, numerous scars and a large crescent moon brand on his right thigh. His hair was frayed and wiry, giving the impression close to that of a dead sapling. Behind him was a spry young boy who dragged his feet through the sand, the exhaustion and boredom that came with the desert outweighing his nature as an energetic brat.

"Where are we even going?"

"You'll see eventually."

The young boy had been 'kidnapped' in the eyes of the government but truthfully, he had been intrusted to this stranger by his parents. How his parents had been convinced by such a corpse-like man was a mystery to him but if anything, the mysterious nature of what was happening excited the child enough for him to have lasted this long without losing their patience.

"How am I supposed to see anything in this…"

Just as he began his complaint, they reached the top of the hill, giving them a straight view of the massive sunstone palace. Surrounded by four walls with massive spires, the total area that the castle walls occupied were at least 10 square kilometres, with dozens of building tops peeking over the sandstone slabs of various shapes.

"You'll be safe here. There are others like you and people willing to accept your blessing. Here, you can be free.