Nefa led me through the encampment, taking a series of twists and turns before stopping in front of our destination.

  “Here, we will stock up on supplies and buy weapons better suited to our environment,” she said, resting her hands on her hips. “Something you can carry without alerting our enemies.”

  I summoned Havoc Maker to my hand. “Hey, this sword has gotten me out of some narrow predicaments, lady. But I get what you’re saying. Having the right weapon always comes in handy.”

  She tilted her head and rolled her eyes. “Precisely. And the kind of enemies you’ll be facing in the desert won’t sit still while you swing that giant blade of yours.” She parted the curtain and stepped inside the enclosure. “You’ll need something light, and easy to swing.”

  I strapped the wicked blade to my back and followed her in, my eyes adjusting to the dimly lit space. “I do have daggers, if that’s what you’re talking about,” I replied.

  She erupted in laughter. “Daggers are nice, I suppose,” she said with contempt, walking over to a man who sat cross-legged on the sand. “But I’m talking about something like this.”

  She flicked her wrist, and a seven-foot scythe appeared in her hand. She gave it a twirl before resting the blade at my neck.

  “With this, I can spin and slice, pivot and kill, or poke at enemies. Right, Sulamen?”

  The salesman looked up from where he was polishing a half-sword with an oily cloth and gave a knowing nod. In front of him, a white sheet that no doubt had weapons underneath.

  “It is so,” he said, grinning wide, a fat gold tooth flashing in the dim light. “What can I do for you, Nefa? You need weapons?” He tossed the rag aside. “Because I just got a fresh batch we hauled in from the old fort.”

  I stood stiff, the sting of oil heavy in my nose. When I didn’t move, she lowered the weapon and planted it upright in the sand.

  “Show us what you have, Sulamen,” she said. “And don’t hold back the good stuff.”

  The sheet in front of him was whisked away with a quick, practiced motion.

  Steel gleamed beneath it, sharp and sparkling in a way that seemed impossible in this dimly lit room.

  Two swords lay side by side, each with honed blades and jeweled handles. The longer I stared, the more I wanted them.

  I squinted at the hovering text box:

  Twin Blades of the Sand — Level 30 — Uncommon

  Attachments: Cyclone Gem

  Two swords forged to be wielded in unison, crafted by the legendary blacksmith Halarl the Fierce—leader, warrior, and master of the forge. These blades increase speed by +6 and grant the ability Cyclone Spin, allowing the user to whirl in a storm of steel. The gem may be removed and fitted into another weapon, though few would part it from these blades.

  Hovering in smaller letters was the price: 15,000 pieces of gold. Expensive, but deadly.

  Next to it was a short blade attached to a long chain. The blade was the length of my forearm and black as night. The name caught my attention:

  Black Tusk—Level 29—Uncommon

  This weapon can strike at a moment’s notice and lets you move like an acrobatic killer. It has no special abilities—but does it need one? Honestly, this weapon will have you dispatching all types of enemies with effortless skill. And if it doesn’t strike anyone when you toss it, you can summon it back to you with a flick of the wrist. Forged from a meteorite, the blade causes dark damage with every hit, causing some enemies to be left in absolute blindness for a few seconds.

  Price: 12,000

  I surveyed the other weapons, but none could match these two.

  From beside me, Nefa stared, tapping her foot once again.

  “Thoughts should be swift and direct, not adventures in waiting,” she huffed.

  I gave her a side-eye, taking my time to annoy her. “Hmm,” I said. “Black Tusk sounds fun. But getting a free gem I can socket into another weapon is also nice,” I added to Sparks. “If I get the Twin Blades, I’d have to level up first, and though it’s not much, I’m ready to try a new weapon.”

  Her tiny wings beat the air against my jaw before she settled on my shoulder. Hand on her chin, she leaned forward and pointed a finger at Black Tusk.

  Ever since I’d killed those sand imps and scorpion-like things, I hadn’t absorbed any more gold. Still, I had a decent amount, nearing forty thousand. With that much, I could afford it and some.

  I summoned the bags of gold and tossed them before him. “Gimme Black Tusk,” I ordered. “My battle fairy fancies it.”

  “Excellent choice, my friend,” Sulamen said, passing me the chained weapon. “Over here, you will find garb for the formidable desert sun.” He shifted his body, revealing two outfits.

  The prices were the first thing I noticed.

  Two grand apiece.

  One set was composed of pants, a tunic-style shirt, and a head wrap for shielding against the sun. The colors were white, except for the khaki trousers, which came with a sturdy belt to hold accessories.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The other set was identical but tailored for a woman.

  Both included a full-body covering meant for the chill that the desert nights would bring.

  I ran my fingers along the fabric and felt the fine mesh layered beneath, nodding in satisfaction.

  The description was straightforward, but each outfit promised a boost: enhanced speed and mobility increased by seven.

  A few clicks later, Nefa and I both stood in our new gear. Changing Nefa’s outfit was simple too. And the best part—she didn’t complain about it. I could dress her how I saw fit, or switch it to auto and let the system decide for me.

  I couldn’t auto-equip myself, and I didn’t want to, but for my companions? Why not.

  For shoes, I bought myself a pair:

  Sand Slippers—Level 28

  Dance across the sand in these special slippers. When you wear them, you can walk without leaving footprints and stay cool while doing so.

  Price: 500

  Nefa sighed, so I got her a pair too, replacing the shoes she wore.

  “Grab as many health potions as you can, and mana. Also, get some strength buffs. And no matter the price, get at least one resurrection potion,” Nefa muttered. “Having one of those could mean life or death.”

  Sulamen went to another compartment, pulling out the potions I requested. For the resurrection potion, he placed it in my hand. “Now, that’s the last one I have in my possession as those are hard to come by. Use it with great care.”

  I added all the items to my inventory except for the weapon. Something about the color of the blade stirred a feeling inside me. The way it drank the light yet still held a sheen was unsettling, almost hypnotic. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

  Leaving the quaint shop, I was out of 29,000 pieces of gold. Easily the most I’d ever spent so far. But holding Black Tusk in my hand made it all worth it.

  * * *

  In minutes, we found ourselves staring out into the purple desert, the cruel sun beating down from overhead. Before me, the map showed no monsters in the vicinity for miles. Sand imps were a threat but Nefa said that out here they weren’t any.

  Sparks flickered around me, her tiny glow almost swallowed by the fierce light. I glanced at Nefa and caught her unreadable expression, a quiet weight behind her eyes. They mirrored her discomfort at leaving her people unprotected, and the sight left me uneasy.

  I slipped two fingers into my mouth and let out a sharp, piercing whistle, summoning Misty to my side. Mere microseconds later, she galloped up, chittering as she waited for me to mount her.

  Swinging my leg across Misty’s body, I extended my arm to pull Nefa up. She glanced at my hand, pushed it aside, and summoned her own mount instead. A massive reptilian beast appeared, its fangs bared and its scales glittering under the sun.

  I shook my head.

  She sprinted toward the creature from behind and somersaulted onto the saddle. “I’ll lead,” she said, as the beast’s two-pronged tendril flicked out, snatching an insect from the ground.

  Nefa rubbed its scaled neck. “The further we push into the desert, the harder the sand will be to ride across… Until then, try to keep up.”

  She kicked the beast in its sides, and it took off in a rush of speed.

  Before I could even kick Misty, her mount was already far ahead. Pushing the Atarax to full throttle, I caught up to her. Just when I thought we’d coast together, she darted off again, forcing me to give chase.

  Sand kicked up behind me as I clutched the reins, cursing the whole time. She looked back with a triumphant grin, enjoying the cat-and-mouse game she had started.

  Up ahead, a tall dune rose, and beside it a massive plant stretched toward the sky. She and her reptile climbed the slope like a gecko, scaling it with ease. I hunched over Misty and pushed her as fast as I could to catch up.

  For a moment I took the lead, but it didn’t last long. Her mount’s wide, rolling stride carried him past me, spraying hot sand in my face.

  After spitting out a mouthful of sand, I shouted, “Fuck this!” and yanked back on the reins, letting Misty slow to a trot.

  Nefa taunted me, but I didn’t care. We’d get to the trials when I felt like it, whether she liked it or not. When I refused to play along any longer, her grin shifted into a smirk.

  “Someone has allowed his pride to spoil his outlook,” she said, slowing down. “Surefoot likes to run at full speed.” She patted her mount’s neck. “Sorry yours doesn’t,” she laughed.

  Anger almost made me say a few things that would’ve cut this young lady deep, but the gentleman in me held back and played it cool.

  “Misty prefers a stroll over a fast trot,” I said. “Maybe Surefoot could learn a thing or two from her.”

  “Ha,” she bragged. “Surefoot doesn’t need any tutelage from that six-legged monster.”

  “Maybe not, but she could use some manners. Maybe take it easy on someone who’s never been in the desert.”

  She looked at me, one brow raised, then realized I wasn’t just talking about her mount. Her posture stiffened. “Yes—yes, you’re right… Maybe I should teach him some manners.”

  I continued the ride, refusing to speak. Every so often, Sparks would glance at Nefa and roll her eyes. I’d whisper to her, and she’d just keep circling me.

  As we plodded through the desert, the clothing we wore clung to our bodies, dripping with sweat. My white shirt was see-through. Every time I’d move, water would slide down my forehead.

  When I caught a glimpse of Nefa, she had stripped off her shirt and wrung it out with both hands. Her taut arms, working the fabric while Surefoot trotted ahead.

  I kept my eyes forward, but I couldn’t help noticing the smoothness of her skin, the wrappings across her chest that supported her bosom, and the curve of her lower back—enticing details for my 19-year-old mind.

  She looked over her shoulder.

  “You should do the same. Otherwise, when we fight, the extra weight will slow you down.”

  I nodded, too nervous to look at her. “Okay,” I muttered. “I’ll do it now.”

  Stripping off the upper portion of my robe, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was so drawn to her. She had tried to kill me—for God’s sake, twice. Add her attitude on top of that, and I should’ve hated this woman.

  But instead, I found myself wanting to hold her close, spill my problems, even kiss her soft lips.

  While pondering all these thoughts, Misty stumbled on a rock, and I went flying off her side, bare-chested into the sand. Sparks chuckled, but Nefa rushed over, helped me to my feet, and twisted the sweat from my robe.

  “Sorry about earlier,” she said, sweat dripping onto the sand. “Sometimes I let my thirst for winning take control of me.”

  “It’s all good,” I said, watching the drops evaporate. “I’m competitive too. It’s just… out here, with all this sand, it makes me feel inadequate.”

  She smiled, handing me my top. “I understand, Lamont. The desert is a mighty foe. Underestimate it, and it will destroy you. But don’t think me helping you right now means anything,” she chuckled. “I’m just making sure you’re okay.”

  She pulled out a canister and passed it to me, her stoic expression returning. “Sip this. It’ll refresh you.”

  I gripped it and felt a cold rush spread through my palm. “What’s in here?” I asked.

  “That’s magicked water I brought from the court’s magicians. A drink will cool your body’s internal temperature for a few hours, making for a more comfortable ride.” Her eyes stayed on me. “Drink it and pass it back.”

  I put it to my mouth, took a swig, and shivered. A chill spread from my chest out to my limbs, like lying in front of an air conditioner. I drew in a deep breath and handed it back.

  Next, I put on the robe, the heat already drying it out, and swung myself back onto Misty. She returned to Surefoot, and off we dashed through the purple sands.

  When we stopped to rest, I pulled out the Saheer herb, brewed a dose, and shared it with Sparks. Nefa declined, reminding us that we should also be repeating the phrase she had taught us to keep Linuux at bay.

  I drank the brew, feeling its effects settle over me, then returned to Misty, ready for whatever the desert had waiting.