Chapter 13 - Change of Scenery

As the landscape transformed around us, a once familiar world now obscured by the tumultuous dance of swirling sands, I found myself immersed in an alien tableau. The cloudy jade mountains, our stalwart companions until now, had relinquished their hold on the horizon, swallowed by the advancing storm of gritty particles.

The wind, once a mere whisper, had evolved into a relentless force, carrying with it the dark grey sands that now obscured everything in a veil of uncertainty. The ground beneath my feet, once solid and dependable, crumbled into granules that sought to entrap each passing step. The very fabric of the environment seemed to rebel, as if nature itself had become a capricious artist, redefining the canvas with each gust.

The taste of sand lingered on my lips, a gritty reminder that we were no longer in familiar territory. The air, thick with tension and unease, bore witness to the changing rules of engagement in this shifting expanse. It was as if the very elements conspired to challenge our progress, the relentless assault of the sandstorm turning an ordinary journey into an ordeal.

In the midst of this alien spectacle, my mind, often immune to the sway of external pressures, couldn't help but acknowledge the stark contrast. The winds, the sands, the very essence of the environment — they seemed to mirror the complexities within. The world, much like the shifting sands beneath my feet, was unpredictable and unforgiving.

Yet, amidst the chaos, a peculiar exhilaration stirred within me. This was a realm untouched by the mundane, a stage where nature itself played the role of both adversary and accomplice. The harsh winds, the sinking sands, the magnetic quicksands — they all added layers to the unfolding drama, a narrative where every step became a choice, a decision to confront or be consumed.

As the group pressed forward, navigating the treacherous terrain, I couldn't help but relish the challenge. The taste of uncertainty, the sound of clashing elements, the very feel of the environment — they were all threads woven into the fabric of this journey. And, with a mind that thrived on adaptability, I embraced the shifting sands as a canvas for the unexpected.

Well, this is a delightful change of scenery. I've traversed through mystical gates, tangled with spirits, and danced with danger, but a sandstorm that turns solid ground into quicksands with a magnetic personality? Now, that's a twist worth savouring.

The jade mountains have bid their cloudy farewell, making way for the gritty spectacle of swirling, dark grey sands. It's like someone flipped a switch, and suddenly, we're in the middle of a cosmic sandbox. The winds howl, the sky is a canvas of chaotic hues, and the ground, well, it's not ground anymore; it's more like a trap waiting to snatch every misstep.

The taste of sand on my lips is an unexpected appetiser. Crunchy, a tad earthy, and definitely not on the menu when we started this stroll. The winds, relentless in their mission, have transformed the once-sturdy path into a granulated challenge. Each step feels like a gamble, a bet against the hungry sands eager to pull us into their grainy embrace.

And then there's the quicksand—magnetic quicksand, to be precise. Now, I've encountered my fair share of peculiarities, but this one takes the cake. Metallic objects sinking into the depths, movements hindered by invisible forces—it's like navigating through a sci-fi fantasy mixed with a touch of absurdity.

But you know what? I'm oddly thrilled. The environment has taken a sharp left turn into the realm of unpredictability. It's as if nature decided to spice things up, and we're left to waltz through its whims. The taste, the sound, the feel—it's a multisensory rollercoaster, and I'm buckled in for the ride.

In the midst of the chaos, I can't help but appreciate the sheer audacity of this place. The universe is throwing challenges our way, and you know what they say: when life hands you magnetic quicksands, make it your peculiar playground. Let's see what other surprises this shifting sandbox has in store.

"It's gotten quite sandy hasn't it, you guys appear to be a bit stuck. Perhaps you guys don't know but Sand-sational challenges call for sand-tastic solutions."

This insensitive remark was called out by the one totally unaffected by his surroundings. Walking on what looked like nothing, about 5cm off the sinking quicksand. Myron strolled leisurely ahead of the group like usual, as if they were in a pleasant field, completely turning a blind eye to the trudging cohort behind him.

"No shit, we are walking in a weird type of desert with quicksand… pfft shit it's in my mouth" Alrickz groaned out loud.

"Huh! Did you say something I can't hear you that well! I can barely see you!" called Sadene from his right.

With a tinge of irritation, a result of navigating the unnaturally turbulent segnxi currents, Zhangli interjected, "The damn sand is disturbing segnxi to a degree, making it annoying to traverse across it… it feels like we are in some type of magnetic field."

Simultaneously, With a similar degree of effort, Hisataria, her brow subtly furrowed—perhaps in response to the irksome intrusion of metallic-like grains or the determined effort to shield against them—addressed the group, "indeed, it is quite troublesome, especially. Coupled with the troublesome quicksand and the intensified magnetic allure on any metallic articles we carry, this place appears tailor-made for opportunistic segnxi beasts lying in wait, ready to strike… also."

Halting her stride momentarily within the grey metallic quicksands, where her very presence seemed to defy the descent, Hisataria scooped a handful of the peculiar particles carried by the gusts of wind. Examining it closely, she remarked with a discerning gaze, "This isn't ordinary sand, a natural occurrence I would easily recognize." 

Hisataria's narrowed slightly in confirmation and recognition, "It obviously isn't actual sand… this natural phenomenon, I would know easily…"

As the landscape shifted into a sea of metallic-like sand, Karma thought to himself. My instinct immediately recognised the potential risk. There was something unsettling about the way the grains seemed to dance in the gusts of wind, as if its interactions with the world followed an invisible pattern, a type of orbit.

Subconsciously, my segnxi surged to life, a responsive dance to the environmental discord. It was almost instinctual, an unspoken agreement between my consciousness and the mystical force coursing through me. The sandstorm, with its magnetic interference, didn't seem to pose a challenge, but my inherent adaptability kicked in.

The distortions in the segnxi currents didn't affect me as profoundly as the others. It was as if an invisible force pushed the sand away from me, an unintended consequence of the type of segnxi emitted. I could sense the fluctuations, the disarray caused by the magnetic properties of the metallic-like sand, but they merely grazed the periphery of my being.

My segnxi, now charged and attuned to the disturbances in the atmosphere, whispered possibilities. It suggested a myriad of potential utilisations—perhaps creating a localised segnxi barrier to repel the magnetic forces, or manipulating the charge to navigate the sandstorm with enhanced agility. The very essence that propelled the distorted currents could be harnessed to my advantage.

 I don't really know where or how I know these things, perhaps affinities of segnxi instinctually let the user be aware of capabilities when mastered, perhaps it was something else. Thinking back to Thalassa words of experience she told me the other day, I started to think. She told me she deferred some value in herself from helping others, or told me at least I could find some satisfaction in doing so. I think this would be an adequate opportunity to put this into practice. 

In the face of this elemental tempest, my mind played with the intricate dance of segnxi possibilities. It was a silent communion, a conversation that transcended words. As the metallic sands continued their erratic ballet, I found solace in the untapped reservoir of segnxi within, a versatile ally in the unforgiving terrain.

Snapping out of the momentary lapse of thought he experienced, Karma gazed around him and looked towards the cohort.

Asking out loud to no one in particular but having an inkling of an idea of what was happening he asked anyway, "You people said the sand both on the ground and in the wind is affecting the segnxi you put up, how? It's not affecting me that much… though more difficult than solid ground, the sandstorm isn't a place the segnxi coating me can't handle."

Gazing at him for a brief moment, understanding flashed through Hisataria's eyes. "It's due to the charge affinity you have infused into your segnxi… so this sand isn't exactly sand after all but a type of charged phenomenon."

Adding into the conversation Thalassa spoke, "that makes sense as to why its being repelled as to rather messing with the segnxi you emit… charge affinity isn't something i'm sure I can handle safely though…"

Zhangli gnashed his teeth in irritation, "your right this is going to be annoying."