CHAPTER 467: CH 467: SMELLS LIKE TROUBLE - PART 1

The estate’s towering walls shrank in the distance, swallowed by the horizon as Kyle and his party pressed onward.

The lush greenery of the cultivated lands soon gave way to arid plains, and from there, to the endless expanse of pale, shifting sand.

The air shimmered in the heat, waves of distortion making the desert seem alive and treacherous.

"From here on, keep a steady flow of mana around your body. If you don’t, you’ll bake under this sun before you even realize it."

Kyle said, his voice carrying easily despite the oppressive dryness.

Melissa adjusted her scarf, nodding, while Amana gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. Silvy, ever confident in her ability to navigate harsh terrain, smirked faintly.

"Just follow me. I’ve crossed harsher deserts than this."

She led the way, her steps deliberate, tracing an invisible path through the dunes.

The wind hissed against them, carrying fine grains of sand that clung to clothes and stung exposed skin.

Hours passed, the monotony of the desert broken only by the occasional distant ridge or cluster of withered shrubs.

Their water skins grew lighter with each sip, making Kyle’s earlier instruction their unspoken priority—find water.

By the time the sun began to tip toward the horizon, Silvy raised her arm and gestured sharply.

"Over here."

She called. The group trudged over a high dune and descended into a sheltered hollow.

A jagged maw of rock yawned open before them—an eroded cave entrance, half-hidden by sand.

Inside, the heat lessened, replaced by the cooler breath of shade. The sound of trickling water echoed faintly from deeper within.

Relief spread through the group as they followed the sound, coming upon a natural pool fed by a thin, steady stream from the cave wall.

It wasn’t large, but the water was clear and cool, a treasure in the middle of such a wasteland.

Melissa exhaled in visible relief. "We should rest here for the night."

"Agreed. We’ll refill everything we have. Silvy, Melissa, Amana—you and the other women wash up first. We’ll handle the perimeter and clean the area."

Kyle said.

There was no argument. The women gathered near the pool, already shedding travel dust from their faces and arms, while Kyle motioned to the male members of the group.

"Let’s move. Check for threats and clear anything suspicious."

The cave’s outer area sloped into a small plateau of hard-packed sand and rock. Kyle moved ahead, scanning the terrain with sharp eyes.

A faint scuttling drew his attention—three squat, lizard-like creatures with jagged spines crawling over the rocks. Their beady eyes fixed on the group with predatory intent.

Before anyone else could react, Kyle’s blade was already out. A single fluid slash cleaved through the air, and the nearest monster collapsed with a strangled hiss.

The other two leapt forward but met similar fates—clean, decisive strikes that ended them before they could land a blow.

"Clear."

He said, flicking the blood from his blade before sliding it back into its sheath.

The others spread out to check nearby crevices, finding only a few harmless insects and the bleached bones of what might have been a desert hare.

They took the time to sweep the area of loose debris, stacking usable rocks for a small windbreak and marking a narrow approach to the cave with a makeshift barricade.

By the time they returned to the pool, the sound of quiet conversation and splashing greeted them. The women had finished washing and were refilling waterskins.

Silvy tossed her damp hair back, droplets scattering, while Melissa handed a filled skin to one of the men.

Amana, regal even in simple travel clothes, stood at the water’s edge, gazing at her reflection as though deep in thought.

"All clear. We’ll rotate watch in shifts tonight. The desert’s quiet now, but it won’t stay that way forever."

Kyle announced.

The group settled into a comfortable rhythm—some tending to equipment, others preparing a light meal.

The cool air inside the cave was a welcome change from the relentless heat outside, and for a moment, it felt almost like a safe haven.

But Kyle’s sharp gaze occasionally drifted toward the entrance, scanning the deepening shadows beyond.

The desert was rarely forgiving, and even an oasis could turn dangerous without warning.

______

High above the mortal world, in the grand celestial halls of the gods, Chief God Arkenas sat upon his throne of obsidian light, the vast dome above him painted with shifting constellations.

His eyes scanned the expanse before settling on the approaching figure of Goddess Lucia, her long white robes trailing like whispers of moonlight.

"Lucia, how are the preparations for the ceremony?"

Arkenas’s deep voice rumbled like a distant storm.

The goddess bowed respectfully, her serene expression betraying none of the weight she carried.

"Everything is proceeding as planned. I have located all the candidates we require. They are in position."

Arkenas’s gaze sharpened.

"Good. Then make haste. The main banquet will commence soon, and the balance must be restored before the last star of the cycle fades. If we delay, we risk the god’s power slipping further from our grasp. The system must be rebalanced, no matter the cost."

"Yes, Chief God. I will see it done."

Lucia replied softly.

As she left the grand hall, the oppressive divine atmosphere began to loosen its hold on her, yet an ache stirred deep in her temples.

By the time she reached her chambers, it had intensified into a searing headache.

Her breath hitched. The room spun violently, her knees buckling.

’No... not yet... I can’t...’

She clutched the edge of her ornate desk, the cold surface grounding her as her vision blurred with streaks of gold and white.

With trembling fingers, she reached for a small, crystal-bound communicator. She could feel her divine essence faltering—time was slipping away.

Summoning what remained of her strength, she pressed her will into the crystal.

"Kyle...you must... prepare. They’re... coming..."

Her voice trembled, the sound barely audible.

The crystal flared briefly in her hand before shattering into motes of light, her message sent into the mortal realm.

Lucia collapsed into her chair, her breath ragged, the divine glow around her dimming. She had done all she could—for now.

Lucia’s fingers slackened, the shards of the shattered communicator sliding from her palm to the floor with a faint chime.

The weight pressing against her chest was unlike any pain she had felt before—it wasn’t only physical, but something deeper, as though the threads of her existence were being unraveled one by one.

Her eyes flickered toward the far wall, where a golden tapestry depicted the gods’ dominion over the mortal planes.

The woven figures seemed to mock her now, their serene smiles a reminder of the order she had sworn to uphold.

A cold presence brushed against her senses. She straightened weakly, knowing without looking that Arkenas’s divine gaze was upon her even from afar.

She could not let him suspect the truth—not yet.

Forcing her breathing into calm, she masked the pain beneath a veneer of composure.

Just a little longer... she thought, clutching the armrest for support.

’If Kyle understands the warning, there might still be time.’

Outside her chambers, faint echoes of chimes signaled the start of the banquet. The other gods would gather soon, draped in their grandeur and false smiles.

Lucia rose unsteadily, hiding the tremor in her steps as she prepared to play her part.