God Rising: Battle of Atela 71 Part III

"Part ways?" Darren didn't think she'd consent to the alternative that didn't favour them both. 

"All we have to do is just get on good terms, Armin!" His eyes had sunk, and his face looked troubled There was no way he'd agree to them separating.

"You'll die out there. The orcs will turn you to a bed slave in no time! Armin, thoroughly consider this. You'll lose the book, and you'll lose everything else. We both need one another, you need to agree." 

He couldn't read Artemis's blank expression. The ropes loosened, and she untied her arms, before moving to her ankles. She got up, doing a small stretch routine before picking Zircon up. "Goodbye." 

"Hey wait! You're joking, right?" He grabbed hold of her arm, stopping her from moving any further. She turned to face him, "Do I look like I'm joking?" Her face was as stern as ever, and he sighed.

"Please don't go. You won't survive" Why am I begging her? If she dies. She dies. I tried to stop her, but she just won't listen. She wants to get herself killed or even raped! Why doesn't she ever think? 

"I can't stop you, and I'm tired of trying to. Do whatever you want, whatever happens to you is none of my business anymore. Even if you get all the gems, it doesn't change the fact that you'd still end up facing the hundred senates ranking from the weakest to the strongest." Artemis looked at him blankly before turning around. She wouldn't use his camel, neither was he willing to give it to her. 

"Hey wait, you don't need me anymore right. You don't need everything I did for you right, so you might as well give me back the clothes you're wearing" Artemis raised a brow, and he smirked proudly, as he folded his arms over his chest. His jaw dropped the moment she started undressing herself, then she threw the clothes back at him. "The weather is hot, anyway." She picked up her blade and fled, blurring into the night, until her figure had vanished from his sight. 

He breathed out, before switching his gaze to the clothes "She will regret this." He placed the overall on the sand then lied down. He feared being alone, but it looked like he had to get used to it. 

***

Zircon opened up, "You're an idiot! How can you survive out in this world? He was willing to let everything go, so you'd both be comfortable with the journey, but you declined! You also let him have the gem?" 

"Zircon aren't you being too nosy! Your job isn't to meddle in my life anymore!" 

"Is that so?" 

"I don't want to be around a beastman! I don't need his help anymore. I can handle this alone!" 

"Alone?" The book shut, and Artemis's breath ceased. "Zircon!" She tried opening it but it was sealed, and the glow of the gems had faded out. "Hey Zircon! Zircon!! Zircon don't do this!!! It's just a shitty beastman! He's the rotten guy! And I'm the righteous one. Why can't you see that? Why are you falling for his tricks?" She sat down on the sand and covered herself up with the cape, "I don't trust him! What if he ends up selling me? What if he knows about the thumbs? Think about it, Zircon! I'm the one that's right!" Zircon still didn't respond, "Fine then. Since you can't see through his lies, I'll prove it to you myself. When the sun's up again, I'll go back to where he is." 

The sun rose over the brown, trackless desert and Artemis started her journey again. Her eyes moved around, searching for her footprints that were no more. She didn't want to panic, so she followed the few and it looked like they were all tangled up and some weren't hers. The wind carried her voice every time she screamed his name. Where was he? Where was she heading to?

The dry breeze continued to blow, and she panted. She was feeling thirsty already. Zircon still wasn't opening up, and she wondered if it still cared about her. She was the owner, but Zircon had been more concerned about Darren and only Darren. 

She didn't expect him to leave. He wanted to be friends, but he abandoned her. "Zircon, I told you he was fake!" Zircon still didn't respond, and her eyes brimmed with tears "Zircon! Why are you siding with Darren! You know how they truly are don't you!?" 

She tried to force it open, but to no avail. "Zircon?" Was it really never going to open again? And because of a wimp like Darren? 

Her cape shaded her from the harsh rays of the sun, but she still craved water and food. She wondered how long she could hold out without it. She looked at the cactus dotted around every time she passed by the looming plants, but she didn't understand how to survive in the arid lands, and she didn't want to risk any disease.  (Some cactus-like plants found in the deserts are toxic. The milky sap of these plants can burn the skin and can cause permanent blindness if it gets in your eyes. Getting water from cactuses aren't that easy. It is NOT a spine-covered basin of water)

Three more days passed and Artemis didn't find him. Neither had she left the Sahara. She was trapped there, having constant illusions and struggling to move despite her thirst and hunger. 

Once the sun started sinking, she collapsed, unable to walk any further. Her hands rubbed the book she clutched to the chest, hoping Zircon would one day open again, but since she couldn't find Darren, the chances of that happening were very slim. Her eyes came to a close, and she succumbed to the wishes of sleep after wandering for three entire days. 

"Darren?" She felt someone or something touching her thighs, and she jolted awake to see five Dark elves with ropes and weapons ready to launch at her. Zircon was no longer with her, her blade was gone as well. She tried to burst through the circle, but they pinned her down, tied her up and muffled her mouth before putting her in the caravan along with other female slaves. 

Through the twilight and silhouettes of cactus, the Prince was able to spot a passing caravan and halted the coachman before he requested to see the slaves inside.

The slave master was skeptical at first, but Darren claimed he wanted to buy one to assist him on his journey home. It didn't take long before the slave master permitted him to check for anyone that picked his interest. The coachman raised a torch and he could vividly see the faces of every slave, male, female, children too and his eyes gleamed the moment it settled on "ARMIN!!!'

Chapter end