Chapter 1263  Sand Thieves

Alaric spoke to the inn"s owner while Arthur and Diana waited outside for the arrangement. It was at that time that he spoke to Rain about what happened and what she should do, which he relayed to Diana.

"What did you tell her in response?" asked Diana with a raised brow, which Arthur might not see, but feel in her tone.

"I told her that I already promised to bridge the sea for her, so tearing Sourna apart is also an option," replied Arthur with a smile.

"Aha," she said with the same tone, as if there was a lot more that she could have said but chose to hide. Arthur turned toward her on the other side of the table, feeling her presence but unable to tell her thoughts.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"You should avoid saying something that misleading. How come you never tell me these things?"

"I bridged worlds for you, not just the sea," said Arthur with a smile. "How could I outdo that?"

"That reminds me," muttered Diana. "How come the people of Hikma are so at ease? There doesn"t seem to be any monster invasion at the moment, either."

"I also asked Alaric on the ship. He said that the Lord of Force created a barrier to protect the kingdom of Sourna. The situation should be different in other places."

Diana was silent for a short while. Then, she asked him in a crestfallen voice, "Are we not meant to be together?"

"Nothing in this universe is meant to happen. Everyone struggles to make what they want become a reality, and we are the same."

"Most people just end up together without threatening the safety of the world," laughed Diana at the absurdity. "Let"s hope that we don"t go straight to h.e.l.l."

"h.e.l.l is already descending," muttered Arthur, thinking about his inevitable fight against the G.o.ds. But just for a short while, he wanted to rest and roam the world with Diana.

Alaric came out from the inn, handing them a set of keys. "We can rest for the afternoon and start our quest in the evening. All the libraries here in Hikma never close."

"What would we do at the libraries?" asked Arthur with confusion. "I doubt we would find any records that would lead us to Deluge."

"You are thinking about regular libraries," Alaric replied with a grin as he pointed in a certain direction. "Can you feel what lies west?"

"Do you mean that unnatural flow of energy?" Arthur frowned as he turned his head toward the direction it came from. "I thought it belonged to the barrier around the city."

"Barriers are a little more stable. Hikma is unique for its knowledge and wisdom because of the libraries having a unique artifact called a Wisdom Core. It connects the entire kingdom of Sourna, sharing knowledge from its every corner."

"Is it similar to the internet?" asked Arthur.

"What is that?" Diana followed.

"A method to share information across the world instantaneously," explained Arthur. "No magic is involved in that process."

"...that sounds like a lie."

"I always like to say that creating something without magic is magic in itself," said Alaric with a grin. "In any case, the Wisdom Core is different. It verifies information the people submit through countless sources and an infinite number of books, reports, and verification centers before it is stored inside the core."

"That means this core contains nothing but the truth?" asked Arthur with surprise. "That means that we might get a close clue about Deluge"s whereabouts, or even Valeria."

"That"s what I thought," said Alaric with a grin. "Of course, only a small number of people can enter or use the core."

"Do we need to break in?" Diana was always quick to take the direct approach, making Alaric laugh dryly while Arthur snickered.

"I am a historian, remember? I have a modest authority in libraries and can get you inside."

"You are helping us without a second thought, Alaric. You have long fulfilled the price for your life, and no longer need to guide us," Arthur told the pirate as he narrowed his eyes. "What"s your purpose?"

"My purpose is to find the great pirate, Valeria Storm, and meet the infamous Deluge the l.u.s.tful," laughed Alaric. "I know for a fact that following you will be like riding the highest waves and crashing into the st.u.r.diest mountain."

Arthur smiled but did not answer because he knew that this pirate/historian was telling the truth. Each left to their own room, and Arthur and Diana decided to take the short break to walk through the streets of Hikma.

"We should change our attire," said Diana as she glanced at the people of Hikma walking, flying, or riding their sand boats. "We are sticking out like a sore thumb."

"It"s the first time we"ll actually go out on a date," laughed Arthur. "Shopping doesn"t sound so bad."

"I heard from Rain about these dates. We call them visits back in Alka because the suitor would visit the lady and get to know her," muttered Diana while deep in thought.

"Sometimes, I forget our cultural differences," sighed Arthur. "I"m hoping that you would like it."

And she did.

Diana seemed to enjoy trying out outfits that are called Desert Cloaks, which wrapped the entire body with a beautiful fabric that resisted the heat. Arthur wore a dark one, while Diana wore a sky-blue one.

It was one of those times that Arthur felt his heart clench because he couldn"t see how beautiful she looked. His heart burned with frustration, but he quickly drowned it.

"I"m sure you look beautiful," he told her, but did not get a response. Diana simply tidied his cloak before cupping his face and speaking inches away from him.

"And you look handsome," she told him before leaving a kiss on his cheek. Arthur smiled as the shop owner whistled at them.

After buying the clothes, the two bought some sandwiches from a vendor. They marched through the streets of Hikma, enjoying the performances of the street artists.

As the bustling city engulfed Arthur and Diana, they thought that their date would only get better. However, as they were walking, Arthur stopped in the middle of the street.

"What"s wrong?" asked Diana with confusion, turning back after fitting a hairpin to tie her blonde hair. Arthur stood with a frown as he raised his sightless eyes to the sky.

"Something is coming, and it"s not going to be fun."

As Diana tried to understand what he meant, a sudden wind blew between the buildings. Sand rose like a smoke screen, blinding their vision. The intensity of the wind almost toppled people off their feet as the sand clouded their vision.

"The Sand Thieves are here!" roared a voice from the crowd that has long since disappeared from their eyes. Diana retreated and held Arthur"s arm not to lose him.

"Sand Thieves?" muttered Arthur with interest as his scars let out an ominous golden glow. "That must be what I am feeling, a thousand approaching presences but none at the same time."

"Run away!"

"Hide your belongings!"

"They are here!"

Madness descended over the crowd as each sought to keep their belongings. As they rushed toward Arthur and Diana, the former hurried to erect a barrier that deterred them from the two.

Arthur took out one of his runic items for the sole purpose of luring the thieves. He wanted to see what was happening firsthand, and a single item was enough for a price.

"Do you want to burn this storm to ashes?" whispered Diana in his ears, marking a smile on Arthur"s face.

"No need. If anything, chaos is an opportunity to understand what is happening," replied Arthur, his voice m.u.f.fled in the roaring sandstorm. As he raised his sword, Arthur ensured to activate his runes.

A soft hum echoed through the market from his artifact. And sure enough, the presences in the sandstorm were drawn to him like moths to a flame. Arthur awaited their approach, and they did not disappoint.

Arthur felt a grip on his sword, although no one was there. He could feel an invisible force trying to yank the artifact from his clutches, but nothing could outpower him anymore. With a single twist, he pushed the presence away.

"If you want to steal this item, you will need an entire army," muttered Arthur with a grin as he slashed with his sword, sending a crippling shockwave through the storm. The sandstorm split in halves for a moment before merging again, but the display was enough to ignite greed in the thieves" hearts.

"Who said we aren"t an army?" a whisper, hushed and cunning, echoed into their ears. Arthur awaited their arrival, and a few seconds later, a creature formed in the sand.

The creature reached for his sword, and even after Arthur slashed it, remained unharmed. Arthur watched the creature seize his blade, trying to pull it away.

Arthur remained unmoving, like a mountain that refused to budge. The humanoid creature twisted, summoning every strength it had.

"I need help!" a voice echoed from the creature, clear and feminine, as several more appeared. Arthur watched with interest as tens appeared to take his sword, but none of them could even move him.