“Yes, yes they do.” Yoji said, his tone fallen. “Come let me take you to Chief Ranbu, we should discuss our next steps.”

Yoji started to walk towards the ship anchored on the other side. Ipnak noticed the atmosphere of gloom around Yoji.

“What’s wrong?” Ipnak asked. “What aren’t you telling me.”

Yoji sighed. “Senior Ranbu sent one of his men to scout the surroundings.” Yoji replied, his voice wobbly. “He was supposed to report after an hour, it’s been 5 already.”

He looked back at Ipnak and said “They are already out there.”

Matriarch Hera’s face fell, and she clasped Ipnak’s hand, grasping it tightly.

The 3 walked over to the ship and spotted an old man swinging a long sword with his eyes closed. The old man was constantly swinging his sword vertically, every time he swung his sword, it would stop just a few centimetres from the ground.

“Brother Ranbu, your sword skills are as marvellous as ever.” Ipnak said. “It’s been 14 years since we last met, but you haven’t changed a bit.”

The old man opened his eyes and looked at the approaching Ipnak and Hera. He smiled. “So you have arrived.”

Ipnak walked over and hugged Ranbu, followed by a light bow from Hera and Yoji.

“Come sit, we should decide our next course of action, we can take care of the pleasantries later.” Ranbu said as he gestured to a make shift earthen hut, probably made using Earth spiritualist abilities.

The group walked into the hut and sat on some mats laid out. “Well, here we all are again.” Ranbu said with a sigh.

“Kafai is gone, but he insured the safety of the sword. I don’t think I could have done what he did.” Yoji muttered. “At least his grandson will survive this ordeal. It’s the least we can do.”

“Koren is a very talented young man, he is similar to old Kafai in many ways.” Ipnak said, a proud look on his face. “I took him in as my student, and managed to teach him a few things.”

“So have you decided.” Ipnak asked. “Who is going to be the bait.”

The whole room suddenly quieted down. “None of us and all of us. We three will take a small group of troops and approach the Oasis from the east.” Ranbu replied. “We will be the bait, while the remaining warriors will take the ships and approach from the north.”

“I understand, gathering water and dates from the Oasis is our number one priority.” Yoji muttered. “But how can we be sure that the Draconian’s will fall for it.”

“We don’t.” Ipnak said as he got up. “Well, no time to waste.”

Ipnak turned to face his wife. “Dear, you need to be on our ship, it needs a spiritualist to sail.”

Hera knew her duty, and didn’t refute.

“Let’s go then” Ranbu got up and walked out with his sword in tow, followed by the rest.

************

“General, the scouts have spotted something over the horizon.” A soldier fully outfitted with leather Armor knelt down in front of Ralf. “it’s a small ship, seems to be a human merchant ship.”

Ralf, who was busy writing a letter home, dropped his quill, and stood up. “How long till they reach the gates.” Rolf asked, hurriedly.

“We spotted them from the watch tower. At their current speed it should still take at least an hour.” The soldier replied. “They should be using a keel stone, the desert humans don’t have any wind spiritualist’s.”

“Good, I want them detained as soon as they reach the wall.” Rolf said. “Also confiscate all of their belongings, especially any weapons.”

“Yes General, I will relay your orders.” The soldier bowed and rushed out.

Ralf smiled, he sat back down to pick up the quill and continue writing, but as soon as his hand touched it, he felt a jolt of pain coursing through his body.

“It’s getting worse.” Ralf thought. ‘This old body is failing me, but as long as I make a breakthrough to major completion, I will have my youth again.’

‘This is my last opportunity, and nothing will get in my way.’ Ralf leaned backwards to rest, a vicious look on his face.

************

Sappa was very tired, he had been using his earth spiritual power to sail the sand ship for almost 2 days. He would try to recover his spiritual power whenever there was a wind current.

He looked up to see the sails finally catch some wind, and let go of the keel stone. Sappa collapsed on the deck, he was breathing heavily from fatigue, and his robes sweaty from the desert heat.

“Ah I knew it, you are slacking off.” Haruki said as he approached the collapsed Sappa. “Here have some.” He uncapped his water bag and held it close to Sappa’s mouth.

“No need, I have my own.” Sappa got up and steadied his breathing, then he took out his own animal skin bag to take a drink, only to find it empty.

“Take it, you need it more than I do” Haruki insisted.

“Fine, but there better not be anything mixed in this Haruki.” Sappa said, still dreading the tea incident. The matriarch almost skinned him alive, even after he told her about Haruki.

Sappa cautiously took a sip, after making sure it was just water, he drank a few more. He returned the bag to Haruki.

“Why so kind today, shouldn’t you be down there with that Sumi girl.” Sappa muttered, suspiciously.

“I know why we are going to the border. When were you going to tell me, was it after we enter Raavi territory.” Haruki asked.

Sappa looked at Haruki, a complex look in his eyes. He still remembered it, the first time he met Haruki’s mother, Sanam. Back then, the shale and Yaris village used to be one village. Sister Sanam came to the village, covered in injuries.

Sappa was the one who found her and brought her to the village. As an orphan, who’s parents died to sand beasts, sappa lived with the chief. The matriarch nursed her back to health and found out that she was with child.

Sanam lived in the village for the next 9 months. She became like a sister to Sappa, but she was also carrying a heavy burden, The sword.

It was only a matter of time her attackers would track her down, so she left her newborn son in Sappa’s care.

Sappa looked down at the sword on his waist and sighed.

“I’m sorry Haruki, but we were only trying to protect you.” Sappa said as he took the sword off of his waist and held It in his hands. “This sword belong to your mother.”

“Mom…” Haruki stammered. “But I’ve never seen it on you before.”

Sappa didn’t reply, he simply concentrated his earth spiritual power on his hands and pulled the sword hilt apart from the rest of the body of the sword. He then turned the hilt and removed the Pommel.

“Your mother had many secrets Haruki, this Pommel caries one of those secrets” Sappa said as he handed the rough pommel with a foggy green gem in the middle over to Haruki. “I don’t have the time or energy to explain to you the importance of this thing, but I want you to know, that this is her inheritance to you.”

Sappa threw the remaining part of the sword overboard, and said “It is both a heavy burden and great opportunity. Protect it with your life Haruki.”

Sappa didn’t bother to look at the dumbstruck Haruki, he simply turned around and put his hand on the keel stone again.

************

Ipnak, Yoji and Ranbu, the three chieftains made their way through the open desert, and journeyed towards the Oasis.

“We have the most number of warriors, they should have spotted us by now.” Ipnak remarked. “Keep the crystals ready. We may have to use them very soon.”

“We will lose our cultivation after using it once, just like Kafai. So we have to make it count.” Yoji stated, his tone vigilant.

Ipnak was worried, he kept looking backwards, fearing the worst.

“Don’t worry Ipnak, the Draconians are after the sword, they will first come after us.” Ranbu reassured Ipnak. “They probably have a commander leading this mission. Bone tempering stage at best, if we work together, we can keep him busy.”

Ipnak nodded “You are right brother Ranbu, with the three of us and the crystal as a last resort, we can do this.”

The trio continued to walk with their around 60 warriors in tow, until one of the soldiers saw something strange in the distance.

“What is that, looks like a bird.” The warrior said, as he squinted his eyes to get a better look.

“Dodge NOW!” someone Yelled.

But it was too late, the spear impaled the warriors chest, turning him into a bloody corpse.

“Defensive formation now” Yoji shouted, as he and the rest started to look up southward, for the thrower of the spear.

Andre tapped his feet in the air and the wind retreated, allowing him to descend down. He touched down just a few metres from Ipnak and the rest.

“Well, how quaint.” Andre started to walk towards them as crackling sounds came out from his body. “You must be the chiefs, well at least you’re stronger than the other one.”

“The commander didn’t let me have any fun back then, but now.” Andre’s body started to undergo a transformation, scales sprouted from his body as he grew larger, a tail appeared and his horns elongated. “Now, I will have some fun”

A monster stood in front of Ipnak and the rest, its dark red scales vibrating like butterfly wings. They could feel the robust aura coming from him. Yoji who was the youngest babbled “Level 29, Bone tempering peak!!”

Andre scoffed and held out his hand. He was wearing a leather glove with inscribed runes which started to glow. Andre looked at Yoji who had just outed his cultivation level, and sent him an ominous glare.

“Yoji NO!!” Ipnak Shouted as the spear lodged in the corpse of the warrior freed itself and then lunged at Yoji.

Yoji heard Ipnak and dodged, but the spear was too close. As the spear was about to plunge into Yoji’s back, his chieftain’s cape started to glow. The Spear passed through Yoji causing almost no damage, but Yoji collapsed on his knees, breathing heavily.

The spear came to a stop in front of Andre. He looked at Yoji, surprised that he managed to dodge that. Then he looked at the ordinary looking cape all three chieftains were wearing.

“Evasion runes, interesting. Now how did a bunch of desert rats manage to get such a high level Rune cape.” Andre sneered towards the three chiefs, with a greedy look in his eyes.