Chapter 15: Dancing with Sand

Sandx City, it was probably the second largest and poorest city in the Highland Continent. The city was founded by all the nomadic tribes in the Sandx desert with the head of the tribe Corput. The city had a high stone wall and had archers guarding the wall. People's houses are shackled and crowded, many of them are poor farmers and beggars. But one thing the Sandx people had in common was that they loved their guests dearly and spent their lives fighting the most glorious battle. Many people enter the Arena of Champions to gain glory for their families and wealth. The roads were cramped, damaged, it was difficult to move, but the city had a high structure. And finally Sandx Castle, an old castle built from sandy soil and very ancient, this place was more like a training camp. But beneath the thick desert was the Steel kingdom of the dwarves. They mined minerals, forged weapons and armor, and lived in the Iron Forge. The dwarves had a very good relationship with the people of Sandx and that was why the Sandx soldiers were the strongest warriors. The king of the Steel kingdom was King Avator Buor, he was the most gifted and talented blacksmith in the kingdom's history. Many famous summoning weapons such as King Zenhector's Titan Ax Champion or Lamalia's Tiger Claws Strike were forged by him. Zenhector took Crusadia team to the Iron Forge to repair and upgrade their weapons. They descended into a deep dungeon and passed through a large gate with a motif of two large hammers. Crusadia Team was surprised and impressed with the dwarves here. Miners went into the mines to dig for iron, copper, gold and rare minerals. They came out of the mines with large bags of minerals. Blacksmiths washed minerals and forged weapons. The pounding of hammers on long pieces of steel was loud and loud and their chants were mighty. Eva said:

"Are they dwarves? They live in the Sandx Desert."

Lamalia replied:

"Yes, thanks to them we have obtained a very large number of high-quality weapons."

They went to see King Avator, he was assembling a sword. Zenhector said:

"Avator, I need your help."

Avator stopped his work, he took off his big glasses from his head and replied:

"Zenhector, my old friend. What did you come down here for?"

Zenhector said:

"The princess of the kingdom of Gloria and her people have come. I want their weapons repaired and upgraded."

Avator met Eva, he knelt down and said:

"Greetings to Princess Eva."

Eva replied:

"You don't need it, I'm the one asking for your help."

Avator met Zed again, he said fearfully:

"Zed Whitney, please stop destroying our smithy."

He was afraid to throw things everywhere. Zed replied coldly:

"I didn't do you any harm, Avator. Now..."

Zed held out his broken Dante sword, he continued:

"Please help me reforge it."

Avator got angry, he shouted:

"Idiot! How could such a precious sword break?!"

Zed replied:

"It's all due to Zenhector."

Avator took Dante sword and observing its broken blade, he said:

"It's going to be difficult, the material for the sword's black blade is rare and hard to find. I'm not sure it'll be the same, but I'll try. Ah yes, give me your weapons, I'll fix it and upgrade them."

Elastor, Eva and Julia gave their weapons to Avator, he brought them to the table and said:

"Bad weapons, look at this gloves. Who thinks they can deal damage? And this greatsword is too light, has no power at all. This bow doesn't help with aiming."

Crusadia Team was shocked by Avator's comments. Then the Avator said aloud:

"The Camel!"

The Camel was summoned from Avator's beard, he continued:

"Ignite the Forge!"

The Camel went to the Main Forge and kicked the pedal repeatedly to make the Forge ignite more. It pulled the lever that opened the giant furnace and threw coal inside. The forge was very hot, and Avator brought the precious metals into the furnace to melt it. He then placed the liquid metals in the mold and summoned the Blazing Hammer Slammer and hammered it to forge a new blade. The hammers were loud and powerful, the dwarven king did not want anyone to be disappointed and would forge the most perfect weapons. Zenhector said:

"Okay, let's go up to the castle and let him do his work. We'll shower and have a party."

They left the Iron Forge and went up to Sandx Castle. Eva, Julia and Lamalia bathed together in the royal bath, where they soaked in hot water. Eva said comfortably:

"Oh it's hot, I haven't had a hot bath like this in a long time. At the Dream workshop I can only take cold showers."

Lamalia replied:

"How did you and Zed know each other?"

"I was chased by soldiers and accidentally entered his shop. Thanks to that, I was saved by Zed."

"What kind of person do you think Zed is?"

"A drunkard, lazy and can't do much. But when I was in danger, he bravely saved me. I owe him a lot."

"Looks like he's already tried to change, but it's impossible not to fight."

"And you, how do you know Zed?"

"Oh nothing, it's a story we promised to keep secret. And you, blue-haired girl, who are you?"

Julia replied:

"I'm Julia Manester, princess Eva's servant. I'm following her to help make this journey."

Lamalia said:

"You guys fought well, keep working to become stronger. Oh yeah, what are Zed and the Elves doing?"

Julia replied:

"You mean Elastor."

Lamalia said:

"Yes Elastor."

Eva replied:

"Yeah, I don't know what they're up to."

In Zed and Elastor's bathroom, Elastor was dressing Zed's left leg wound. Elastor tugged at the bandage and injured Zed, he said:

"What the hell! Are you going to kill me?"

Elastor replied:

"If you don't bandage it tightly, you will lose a lot of blood.:"

Zed said:

"Damn it."

Then Zed and Elastor took a hot bath, both feeling good and sighed. Zed said:

"It's not like you gave The Star a bath."

The Star was secretly trying to bathe with them, it got scared and went back inside Elastor. Elastor said:

"We're here, don't you want to visit him?"

Zed replied:

"Yeah, I'll visit him."

Zed sank into the pool of hot water and closed his eyes in thought. After bathing and changing into the traditional Sandx kingdom's clothes, Crusadia team and Lamalia entered the castle courtyard where the party was being held. There were a lot of nobles partying and drinking, and when Eva passed they bowed to her. Crusadia team came and sat at the king's table. They sat across from Zenhector and Lamalia. On the table were many delicious food such as: Grilled pork with full of spices, a variety of fruits decorated beautifully and wine,... Julia was very hungry but afraid of being impolite. Zenhector said happily:

"Enjoy yourself, everyone can eat naturally."

Julia enjoyed eating and so did Elastor. As usual, Zed was still drinking and eating barbecue. Zenhector said:

"Then princess, tell me what Urizen did."

Eva replied:

"On the day I ascended the throne. Urizen made a surprise attack with his army on that day, he summoned the phoenix Elemental Spirit and killed my father. I escaped in time and was saved by Zed."

"So that bastard did a dirty act to carry out his plan. I'm still thinking about his suggestions but I'm not sure yet."

"I'm not sure what Urizen is up to in terms of forming an alliance with the four kingdoms but his taking the throne is against the common law of royal families. Please help me fight Urizen and win the throne again."

Zenhector thought for a moment, then said:

"Okay, I agree to your request and will help to defeat Urizen. But I wonder what benefit I would gain from helping you."

Eva replied:

"Money, honor, glory and a peaceful benefit to both kingdoms."

"We don't need those things, since Zed is here, I also want to ask him for this."

Zed looked at Zenhector, he said:

"What do you want me to do?"

Zenhector replied:

"Currently there are many nomadic tribes standing up to overthrow me. The nomads only use war to get what they want and cannot negotiate. I want you to defeat them. ."

Zed said:

"This is your problem, why am I getting into this?"

Eva replied:

"Wait Zed, if we help him we will get the help of the Sandx kingdom."

Eva said to Zenhector:

"Can't we talk to them?"

Zenhector replied:

"No, war is the only way."

Eva was a little worried, she said:

"All right, we agree to help you as well as you will help me."

Zenhector and Eva shook hands to agree to the deal. Zed whispered:

"Better to be caught by traitors."

Everyone was started dancing on the dance floor. Instrumental players blow trumpets, beat drums for everyone to dance. Lamalia said:

"Come on Eva, let's dance together."

Lamalia brought Eva down and danced together. Julia said to Elastor:

"Will you dance with me?"

Elastor replied:

"Yeah."

Elastor took Julia's hand and went dancing with her. Left with Zed and Zenhector drinking, Zed said sadly:

"So where's his grave?"

Zenhector replied:

"Go into the vineyard where you two used to practice, my son's grave is there."

Zed picked up a bottle of wine and said:

"Thank you."

Then Zed walked into the vineyard and said:

"It's been a long time."

Back to the rest, they were partying and dancing. Lamalia and Eva held hands and danced together. They danced softly and gracefully to the melodious and romantic rhythm of the music. The music got stronger, Lamalia and Eva dance faster and full of energy. Lamalia twisted her body in the middle of the dance floor, she danced very well. Lamalia raised her arms and flexed her butt energetically. Her red dress was blended into Lamalia's fiery dance like a peacock. Everyone clapped and cheered for her. Eva was so overwhelmed, impressed and admired Lamalia's dance, she thought to herself:

"She dances beautifully."

Lamalia said:

"Dance, princess Eva."

Eva danced softly, her dance moved slow but rhythmic like a swan. She danced like her sad mood after having suffered so much pain. The two princesses held hands and bowed to each other. Lamalia said:

"You dance beautifully. Let's make friends together. Oh yeah, tomorrow I'll take you around town."

Eva replied:

"Thank you, Lamalia."

Elastor danced with Julia, they danced like a romantic couple. Elastor turned Julia around and put his arm around her waist. Julia blushed, she said:

"I am embarrassed."

Julia rushed to get water to drink. She grabbed a water bottle and drank it down. Elastor approached Julia and said:

"Are you okay?"

Julia put down the water bottle and looked at Elastor, she replied:

"It's okay, I'm fine. It's just that you're so handsome I'm a bit embarrassed."

Suddenly her face was as red as a tomato, Julia wondered:

"Why am I so dizzy, my face is so red? I remember I just finished drinking water."

Julia sniffed the bottle of water she had just finished drinking, it was wine, she said:

"It's wine. Oh no, my tolerance."

Julia lay down and didn't stop talking nonsense. Elastor said:

"She shouldn't have been drinking."

Many girls surrounded Elastor and offered him a drink:

"Hello handsome Elf, would you like to have a drink with us?"

he just said:

'Sorry I have someone to help.'

Elastor picked up Julia and said:

"Come on, I'll take you to your room to sleep."

Julia replied drunkenly:

"No need Elastor I can walk on my own *hiccups* you know what Elastor, you're so handsome, I love you so much. You're perfect Elastor *hiccups*."

Elastor replied:

"Hmm, okay."

Elastor took Julia to the bedroom and then he went to find Zed, he thought to himself:

"He must have gone to visit his best friend's grave, I shouldn't have bothered."

Suddenly Eva blocked Elastor's way, she said:

"Elastor, tell me about Zed's past."

Elastor was about to leave but was blocked by Lamalia, who said:

"I know, tell her."

Elastor replied dejectedly:

"Damn it, he's going to kill me."

Zed had passed through the vineyard, he remembered in the past the image of two friends practicing and drinking here. Zed reached a glass pyramid and stepped inside. Here grew a lot of natural greenery and vines, also bottles of wine here and gifts to pay homage to those who died here. Zed reached the tombstone in the middle of the pyramid. Eva and Elastor sat next to the bedroom's balcony. Elastor said:

"Okay, are you sure you want to hear from me, Eva?"

Eva replied:

"Yeah Elastor, Zenhector, Lamalia and Avator look like they've known Zed for a long time even though he says he's never left the kingdom. They also have a lot of hatred and fear of Zed."

Elastor said:

"Okay, you're right, Zed has been to Sandx kingdom and met everyone here. But at that time he was..."

Eva focused on listening to Elastor's story. Zed approached the tombstone, on the wall behind it hung a legendary sword called Spirit Sword Loyalty(It was a sword with a thorny guard and slightly long hilt, the blade was long and the center of the blade was coated with obsidian that deals more damage. There was an emerald near the hilt for decoration and was the royal sign). Around that tombstone were many flowers around and on it was written the name "Edengaz Corput". Zed said sadly:

"Edengaz, I'm back."

Elastor said to Eva:

"...Horseman of Death."