Tombs & Rendezvous

Chapter 2: Rendezvous & Tombs

Dusty. Quiet. Average.

Those three words immediately came to mind when describing the small town of Eshtara.

A shepherd guided his goats toward sparse patches of grass. A husband and wife laid dates out to dry on the roof of their mud-brick home. Children played with small, well-used enchanted toys in the shade. Textile merchants spun wool under makeshift awnings, wiping sweat from their brows. The usual sights of daily life.

Most of what stood out belonged to the town's three noble families. Their large homes — built of fine limestone rather than mud-brick and adorned with glowing Jiu seals — offered generous shade and comfort in the harsh desert.

Local rumor claimed they had fled the Royal Capital of Suryapura after the massacre and prepared these houses in advance. And that was exactly why the Black Fang had come.

* * *

"Yawwwwn," Nassor had his arms behind his head, walking lazily towards the city center. "The only thing good here is the noble women. Food? Average. Sports fields? Just one. Pubs? Average."

Kazan just groaned, already palming his face. "You're just a city slicker. For a random town in the dunes, this place is fuckin' great. I actually enjoy the- forget it. You wouldn't get it."

"I get it," came Arjuna's soft voice, accompanied by a chuckle. "There's something to be found everywhere. Even here. There's beauty in the stillness, you know."

"Oh, Arjuna…! I knew you'd understand me…!" Kazan grasped the soft mercenary's hand, squeezed, eyes glowing with mock warmth, before bursting into laughter. "Let's get a move on, you two! I'd like to meet this local noble guide, before we head into the Tombs."

The mercenary trio bickered lightly as they walked, their lively energy casting a bright energy over the drab town. Village folk watched them with gentle smiles, offering small nods and waves as the group passed.

* * *

And then it came into view.

One of the only grand houses in Eshtara. A golden star hung from the roof, and a fountain of Jiu-enhanced water shimmered emerald in the sunlight. And — wait just a damn moment. A single figure stood waiting in front of the gates.

"HUH?" Nassor's brows furrowed as he stared at the figure. "Don't tell me. Is it really-"

"ARJUNA DEAAAAARRRRRR~"

A curvy, beautifully-dressed woman literally jumped forward, wrapping up the delicate younger brother into a big hug. And as waves of soft light brown hair got into Arjuna's face…

"L-Leila?!?"

He leaned back a bit, hands resting at her waist. His eyes widened with surprise. "Y-you're the local noble helping us? But I thought you were just…"

"That I was just the prettiest woman you've ever met?" Leila laughed, stepping back and doing a little twirl — showing off her robes. Fine silks, embroidered with star shapes, dyed a deep, beautiful emerald green.

She took a stance, hands on her hips… and grinned. "I suppose you've seen me naked more often than with clothes, hm? My name is Leila Al-Thuraya-"

"You have a FAMILY NAME???" Nassor interjected.

"... yes? Duh?"

"... oh. I thought you were just Leila."

The light brown beauty huffed, shook her head, and then took up that pose again, winking just at Arjuna — "Heir to the Al-Thuraya Star Magic ☆"

Jaws were still dropped. But of course, the only one who hadn't partaken in the orgy, our lanky mercenary Kazan — began to laugh.

"HAHAHA! You guys met up every night for the past three days… and you didn't know she was that famous?"

"W-well…" Arjuna blushed a bit, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I never thought to ask, while I was busy ramming her from behind…"

The corner of Leila's eyes crinkled into amusement, and then she was already clinging to Arjuna's arm again. "Mhm, I mean… you all have seen the city. There's barely anything to DO here! The Royal Capital was a total blast! And now…!"

For once — Nassor and Leila locked eyes, nodding solemnly. It seems they had come to an agreement on something. This place was BORING compared to the Capital.

The tall older brother just snickered now, already relaxing. One arm around Arjuna's other side. "Heh, she's right… but still. Damn. Oh well! Let's just get a move on, yeah? We can walk and talk. Lead the way, Princess Big Butt."

"Hmph!"

Leila flipped her hair, seeming to take pride in the nickname. "Come on, Arjuna dear~. I'll tell you three more… while we head to the hidden Tombs~"

And Kazan groaned. "You two always find yourselves in spectacular situations… alright, whatever, let's walk and talk."

* * *

Ambling through the small town was certainly an interesting group, to any local who spotted them. A tall, lean, rugged warrior. A delicate, handsome archer. A lanky, roguish, young man. And the radiant heiress. They left a trail of varied footsteps in the coarse sands now, just outside the main village hub.

"So, Leila," began Arjuna, leaning slightly into her side. "While we're surprised you're aiding us… The Tomb won't be forgiving. You must be more skilled than you let on."

"What, boss ain't tell you?" Kazan raised a brow, and then took out his staff — casting a small sun protection spell on the four as they left the natural shade. "We needed someone to round out our lil scoutin' party, dude. We have our frontliner. Our archer. I'm the healer. And she's-"

"The radiant mage!"

Leila levitated slightly, pulling Arjuna up with her as she giggled. A glowing star symbol appeared in her free hand, rapidly shifting shapes — a knife, a beam of light, a crackling fireball — before fizzling out like a celebratory firecracker.

"Huh. Wait. You're gonna be a bit of everything, ain't ya?" Nassor remarked, humming along. "A jack of all trades. Protect our backline, while also aiding me. Supporting and also doing damage. A sort of… middle line."

"Oh?" Heiress Al-Thuraya nodded, her face settling into a more serious one. "You're smart, beneath all that, Nassor. Yes. A simple rogue wouldn't have sufficed — you'll need someone whose family once aided the Royal Family… who can deal with arcane locks. Or else you want your handsome face to melt off from Dark Lamia poison."

* * *

As the outskirts came into view, a heavier mood settled over the group. Leila's words served as a stark reminder of what lay ahead. The usual banter faded, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

"I wonder," thought Nassor. "Will our usual formation be good enough? What's the best way to work Leila in? Can I trust a noblewoman in a real fight…?"

"Why us, truly? There has to be more to this," was Arjuna's thinking. He glanced back at Eshtara a few times.

Kazan was checking his pouch and wiping off his staff. "Salves? Check. Jiu replenishing pills? Check. Smoke bombs…? Got em."

Leila was quietly frowning. Walking a bit faster than the rest of the crew now. "Usually I'd feel excited about exploring something new. But I can't shake this feeling…"

But of course, it was the task of the "leader" to keep the mood up.

"Won't be that much farther huh?" Nassor spoke up, doing his best to sound more casual. "Guess even a little town like this really has its deep secrets. The Royal Mystic Tombs…"

Arjuna nodded along, squeezing Leila's hand a bit. "Mhm. They've always been hidden. Even before the Royal Massacre. There's a ton of rumors about what's actually inside, aside from treasures."

"Even I don't know the full truth," Leila interjected. Her usual playful lilt was entirely gone, replaced by a cold edge that didn't match the desert heat. "As an Heiress — I know how to work the seals. But Daddy always kept his lips shut about why we went to so much trouble to hide it."

* * *

The coarse sands beneath their boots gradually gave way to jagged, cracked obsidian rock. The open horizon of the dunes swallowed itself up, boxing them into a narrow, towering canyon where the air grew thick and dead.

Nassor's casual stride tightened. His eyes scanned the high ridges, his palm resting firmly against the serpent pommel of his spear. Beside him, Arjuna's gentle expression hardened, his fingers unconsciously tracing the sleek, alien curves of the metal bow on his back. Even Kazan had stopped groaning, his roguish face tense as he gripped his casting staff, ready to pull Jiu at a moment's notice.

"We're here," Leila murmured, stopping dead in front of what appeared to be a seamless, solid sandstone cliffside.

She stepped forward, her emerald silk robes brushing against the stone. Raising her right hand, the star symbol on her palm flared — not with a festive sparkler flash this time, but with a deep, pulsing, azure glow.

"Reveal what the stars obscure," she whispered.

The air rippled. Like ink dropping into water, the solid rock fractured into shimmering cosmic geometric lines. The illusion tore open with a low, grinding groan, exposing a yawning mouth of pitch-black darkness that descended deep into the earth. A blast of stale, frozen air rushed out, carrying the faint, metallic scent of ancient blood and suffocating Jiu.

Nassor stared into the abyss, a dangerous, familiar smirk slowly fighting its way back onto his face.

"Well," the older brother chuckled, twirling his spear into a low guard. "Guess the fun's over. With me, Princess. Arjuna and Kazan bring up the rear. Let's get this over with."

* * *

… and gone unnoticed by all of them — was a small purple snake, slithering by Nassor's boot, before disappearing into the shadows.