Michi, a turtle in a cracked astronaut helmet, surfed on his sandboard, cords of a large parachute were tied to his chest. He gracefully slalomed between triangular, hollow tombstones, accelerating at an unbelievable pace.

Once he caught a gust of strong wind, Michi turned towards the largest dune in his sight and prepared, his keen eyes focused on the outline. The boy launched and soared in the air, laughing heartily.

When Michi landed, he slid all the way down the opposite dune before finally stopping at an entrance to a buried tower.

"According to the maps... it should be it. Hopefully, it'll go better than the last time." - Michi packed his map, parachute, and sandboard and looked at a large, triangular gate, leading to a dark grotto. He lighted a torch and lifted it to the ceiling. The light revealed hundred of sleeping bats and a round opening at the ceiling.

Michi threw a line with a hook inside the hole. It landed with a loud clang, waking and scaring the bats. The turtle shielded his face and endured an assault of black wings and tiny bodies.

"Uff" – Michi exhaled with relief. - "Sorry, my little friends!" - He shouted, then climbed the rope.

Michi found himself in a large dome made of glass, although it was still buried under the sand. In its center was a large tree with pink flowers, fallen petals formed a soft, fragrant carpet.

Although there were other, uncanny astronomical devices in the room, Michi was enthralled by the sight. He approached the tree and gently touched its white bark.

"I know this tree..." - Michi whispered and took out a knife - "...sorry." - then carved a symbol of fish, staining the blade in a crimson sap.

The tree's blood kept dripping until it formed a pool under the turtle's feet.

Michi pushed his hand inside the symbol of a fish and the walls of the room began to rotate.

At this instant moment, everything but petals disappeared, replaced by an island surrounded by a white sea. The turtle opened his palm, he was holding a small crystal. - "What is it? Was it supposed to be here?" - Michi felt that the crystal is important, so he stuffed it in his pocket.

The turtle knelt and started gathering the petals, he ground them between his fists for long hours, they gradually hardened and compacted, forming a pearl. Michi took his bloodied knife and started carving red symbols into the gem - "-90.1 Da'at, 114.2 Gevurah " - then tossed the pearl into the ocean.

A day passed and petals wilted, turning into black carapaces.

A week passed and the petals grew insect legs, then walked into the sea.

A month passed and columns of obsidian emerged from the water.

The turtle walked on the pillars until he reached a boat with a fishing net. He cast the net, then lifted his eyes to the sky and waited until black stars appeared. Michi dragged the net out of the water, there was a large, glass bubble inside. The turtle shattered it with his fist at an instant. Inside was a dream catcher shaped like a mask. The turtle lied on the boat, put the item on his face, then crossed his arms and waited until he fell asleep.

In his dreams, thousands of steel ships crossed the skies, escaping from an infernal fire.

Then, a clock ticked.

In his dreams, Nassim stood amongst an army of Titans, risen from the ashes.

Then, a clock ticked.

In his dreams, an outpost was being engulfed by an invisible flower, then he heard a gunshot and its fruits became ripe.

Then, a clock ticked.

And the dream ended.

The walls around Michi stopped rotating and the glass dome was no longer underneath the sand. The tomb unearthed, transforming into a tall tower.

Above Michi, in the skies, thousands of spacecrafts blinked into existence, many burning in black flames.

[ . . . ]

Many years have passed and the desert turned into an agglomeration of glass pyramids with hanging gardens.

Michi was resting in his apartment, on his bed.

"Michi." - The ghost of Nassim entered the balcony.

Michi opened his eyes and quickly grabbed a tablet, which displayed the words that Michi was speaking.

"Hello, Nassim."

"I came, to say goodbye. This time, for real."

Michi was shocked, he immediately jumped out of the bed. - "Why? Is it the ashen separatists again?"

"Not only. I've realized, that I dislike this place, what it has become."

"Why? If someone raided a tomb, we will punish them accordingly!"

"Michi, it will keep happening. Our peace was disturbed the moment you called them and there's no going back. I don't blame you, though."

"Nassim, we'll find a solution, don't leave. It'll not be fun without you!"

"You have many new friends, who owe you more than just their lives. You'll be okay."

"Nassim, it's not the same! Why are you always so struck on leaving!?"

"My people, are out there. I neglected their graves for long enough."

"We have professional cleaners now, what are you talking about? We restored more tombs than us two would do in a thousand years!"

"Michi, you don't understand."

"Then, explain! I'll listen!"

"It was never about the external shell. What mattered, was the desert's harmony and purity of our hearts."

"I can vouch for these people! They are not different than you and I."

"Only, because we both have changed. I wish to go back, to what once was."

"What once was..." - Michi grumbled.

"Michi, that's one of many things that I'm speaking about. You became not only careless, but also indolent, and addicted to the life of pleasure."

"Don't be a hypocrite. You enjoyed your books too."

"I still enjoy them. The fault is not in them, though. In our self-indulgence, we're guilty of forgetting what mattered. Of missing the chances to take action, to help the city grow as it should. I regret that."

"Then, stay! We can fix our mistakes!"

"The city is too big and changing too fast. It will take more than just the two of us."

"My friends will help."

"What I meant, was that it'll take more than just people."

"What? Speak clearly."

"I can't, but the answer is out there, it calls me."

"If that's how it is, let us pack our bags and go with you."

"No, Michi. Your people might not like what I may find."

"Nassim! Don't be like that, they're good folks! We're like brothers and sisters."

"Even brothers and sisters, are capable of stabbing you in the back."

"Don't speak like that! Look at you! You isolated and alienated yourself. If you only got to know them..."

"Then, I'm afraid, there would be no going back for me. I'm content with my choices, they gave me one last chance of redemption."

"Nassim, I told you to stop. Don't be arrogant! We're not inferior to you."

"Of course, you're not. That's why I'm afraid of the future, where the voice of majority dictates what's wrong and right, anew."

"...and is it wrong? You're stuck in the past."

"I... I want my people to have their deserved peace."

"Aren't living more important than the dead?"

"You can't trivialize it."

"Yes or no?"

"I refuse to answer that question."

Michi sat on the edge of his bed, angry. - "Nassim... why are you like this?"

Nassim did not answer.

"Since I've saved them... there was less and less time for both of us, I was so busy. I know, it's my fault, but give us a chance!"

"Michi, it's not that. I'll always be your friend and support you, but just like you did, I've my own path to pursue too."

"Then... I won't stop you, but tell me... can't I really go with you? Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you, but..."

"...but?"

"...but I want to do this on my own. I became too reliant on your eyes and ears."

"There's nothing wrong with that! Best friends support each other!"

"No, I feel that I won't change as a person, like you did, unless I walk my own path and rediscover myself."

"Bunch of pseudo-spiritual nonsense! You don't need to rediscover anything! Stay as you are."

"Michi... I don't think we'll come to an agreement here, but can you... just respect my decision?"

"...but"

"Michi!"

"I get it. I get it. I can... so, this is goodbye."

"It is, but I'll come back one day, I promise."

"Just don't get lost, out there."

"I won't."

"I'll be missing you, Nassim."

"I'll be missing you too, Michi. Goodbye."

"See you again."

The ghost flew out of the balcony. Michi rushed to the railings and stared at the sky, but it was impossible for him to see Nassim. He returned to his room and shoved his hand in the pillows, then screamed.