The Land’s End

Malel put her head down, resting it over the well-traveled bag. The campfire she set up on her right, created a very relaxing atmosphere with the starry night. She used the last bits of dry wood, which she collected a few days before entering that Gods forsaken land of endless desert. The day was long and exhausting, so this moment was well deserved. Her eyes were wandering across the sky, looking up at the constellations and instead of giving her mind some peace, she was reading those stars like a map. There will be time for that, but not yet, she said to herself. The sound of cracking wood was the only noise around, like a lullaby she couldn’t resist. Her eyes were getting heavy, with her eyelids fluttering shut without any resistance. The sounds of the flames started to fade and within a few moments, it was just dead, silent darkness. ‘Malel’, a voice could be heard, like a whisper blown by a nonexistent wind. ‘Malel’, she heard it again. She quickly lifted herself up, bending one knee while the other was still under her, but ready to lift off any moment. Her head turned from side to side, checking the surroundings. Malel hadn’t said a word, she just listened, even her breathing couldn’t break the silence. Years of training and experience made her an excellent scout, this is why she was the one the Elders chose for this important task. Something touched her left cheek, very gently, almost like someone tickled her with a feather and a voice could be heard ‘Malel’. She unsheathed her dagger and swung her arm to the left so fast, the dagger cut through the air making a whistle, meanwhile her body dodged to the opposite side. Nothing. ‘This land is truly forsaken by the Gods’ she said while sheathing the dagger back into place. ‘Better move on before I loose my mind, shouldn’t be much further’. The moon was still high in the sky providing her with a cold blue light like a natural torch. She quickly grabbed her rucksack and placed it on her back. It was a typical desert, scorching in the sun, freezing at night. Malel pulled up her hood to keep her body warm for as long as possible. Slowly taking step by step on the sand, she used the stars to navigate and hoped for the best she was still on track. The compass in her satchel was no use without proper light. Darkness, usually her best friend, is no friend in this situation. Dark shadows danced around her like phantoms, or at least that’s what she thought. Just my mind playing tricks on me she told herself. Still, she couldn’t take her hand off the blade. The Elders told her stories about this land, which is said to be cursed and forgotten by the Gods. Some of them were just wanderers losing their way, misguided by the spirits of fallen soldiers. This land was once fertile with grass, rivers and fields circling a large city with golden walls around it. The Legendary city of Ferradan. The most prosperous from them all. Wealth that they gathered there was so vast, that all eyes were looking at it, filled with greed and jealousy. Every king, every warlord wanted that place to themselves, so they created a pact to join their forces and attack, then split the wealth, and they did, except the last part. Thousands of soldiers from different lands, surrounded the city and attacked at the same time. The city fell within hours, but they didn’t stop fighting. They turned on each other. Blood was flowing like a river, limbs were flying and bodies were stacking up creating a grotesque, mountain-like landscape. The Gods were watching with anger and their wrath was so powerful, so apocalyptic, they wiped that land with unimaginable power turning it into what it is now. Spirits of those soldiers meant to roam that land for eternity and fool those who dare to come here. Malel recited this story and others to herself to spare her from boredom while she walked and to prepare for what awaited her. the stars slowly faded and the sky started turning orange. Night was giving way for the day. ‘I should probably check the compass’ She stopped and pulled a small box out of her satchel. ‘Good, I’m still on track’.

The Temperature began to rise and the sun peaked on the horizon. The mares that were once dancing around her are now gone and now there is nothing but sand as far as eye can see.

As the sun reached a quarter of it’s journey across the sky, small gusts of air were hitting Malel’s face. It was not a pleasant breeze, rather a hot blow of heavy air, like opening a baker’s oven only mixed with grains of sand. She pulled a long piece of material from her backpack and wrapped her head around like a scarf leaving only a small gap for her green eyes to shine through. Dust devils appeared, spinning around her just like those phantoms she thought she saw at night. The ground was no longer still, sand started to flow like water. ‘Can’t be any more difficult’ she said pushing forward. Her clothes were covered in dust, her mouth was completely dry and she couldn’t even keep her eyes open. There was still some water left in her flask, enough to prevent her lips from cracking. Small gusts of wind turned into a sandstorm within seconds forcing her to stop. She sat on the ground, wrapped her arms around her face and hoped this would stop soon, but her faith was slowly disappearing. ‘Malel, Don’t give up’, a voice whispered in her ear, the same voice she heard last night but she wasn’t afraid anymore, due to tiredness perhaps but the voice now gave her comfort. Lightening up the fire of hope in her heart which she thought she had lost. She quickly stood up on her feet and started marching. Like magic, the storm stopped. Was this some sort of a trial? she thought. Once the sand settled down, she couldn’t believe what she saw. Malel stood at the large golden gate with snake symbols on each side and golden walls stretching so far they seemed never ending. ‘Is that….Ferradan?’ she asked herself as she took off the scarf, ‘it cannot be, this place should not exist’. One side was slightly open, she put her hand on it and pushed. It opened easily, for such heavy looking doors there was no resistance at all. The gate revealed an enormous city, the most beautiful city she had ever seen. Streets made of white cobblestone with palm trees on each side, buildings made of marble with golden details and a huge palace in the middle. Malel was fascinated however the worry still lingered. People were walking around, wearing beautiful robes while she was all dirty and with every step she made, sand made it’s way down. ‘something is not right here’, she said, looking at them passing by, ‘it seems like no one can see me’. and no one did. Malel felt like a ghost, but who was the one here? Had she died during the storm? Is this where you go after? Her head was spinning, not knowing what was real. Confused, she started to wander around. Suddenly, her instinct was telling her someone was watching. She stopped in the middle of a street and instantly everyone else did the same, it was like time had frozen. Malel didn’t move, she only moved her eyes. All those strangers, like some kind of marionettes, turned towards her, lifting one arm and pointing at the girl. The small gust of wind touched her cheek, ‘Malel, run’ the familiar voice whispered, and she did. She ran back, tracing her steps, passing all those strangers who stood there, still pointing at her and staring with lifeless eyes. Ghost-like soldiers started to materialized and pursue her, coming out of the buildings and alleys. There were too many, Malel had no chance to stand against an army. They started to scream, their voices were unreal, straight from her deepest nightmares. When she was taking a corner, one jumped on her, she managed to quickly dodge and slashed the mare with a dagger. There was no blood. The ghostly soldier turned into mist, but she didn’t linger to watch, she just kept running. The air started to whirl, just like everything else around her, slowly ceasing to exist. Malelstill heard them coming. Her heart was pounding, but she tried to keep her mind calm and not let the adrenaline take over. She tripped over but managed to roll on the ground and pick herself up. The almost faded gate was only a few feet away from her. Malel pushed, running as fast as she could, but a phantom appeared right in front of her. There was no time, the blade went in, missing her stomach by an inch. Explosion. Some sort of magical dome was created in that moment, destroying all the spirits that were surrounding her. Malel found herself laying on the sand, blood poring out. The screams began to fade. The city was gone, like a fata morgana. She held her hand over the wound but it was no help, nothing could stop the bleeding. ‘I failed’ she said, ‘I am going to die on that desert’. A cold breeze touched her face followed by that familiar whisper. ‘Malel, I am sorry’. She looked up, to see a woman right above her. She couldn’t see the woman’s face. She knew it was a spirit, but not like the others. ‘I shouldn’t let that happen, I am sorry Malel’ the ghostly apparition went down on her knees. ‘who are you?’ Malel asked staring at the spirit. ‘I am meant to be your guardian, but I have failed. It was me all this time, trying to protect you. I kept them away for as long as I could, but I have failed’. The spirit bent over, putting hand on Malel’s face. The sensation felt like a cold breeze, as gentle as being tickled by a feather. ‘I failed too’ Malel said, ‘the Elders sent me with a task. The village was running low on water. The Elders had no other choice but to send someone to find a new place for the settlement. I was their only hope but now, they won’t even know what happened’ a small tear started to run down her cheek, falling on the sand, evaporating instantly. The spirit stood up, arms wide. A cold breeze of fresh air reached Malel’s face. ‘You are not far from your destiny’ Spirit said. Malel heard something, she looked up to the sky and saw a bird. It made a circle and landed next to her. ‘Seagull’ she said. ‘those that mean….’ Malel lifted herself up. The blood wasn’t pouring that much anymore, actually it almost stopped. ‘come with me’ the guardian stretched her arm towards Malel. She grabbed her hand and both started to walk. The seagull swooped back up into the sky. Within a few steps, sand turned into grass. The air was pleasant, fresh, not dry like before. The spirit was holding Malel’s hand, while she was slowly moving forward, step by step. ‘look’, the woman said. ‘we are here’. The girl looked up. ‘It’s the Land’s End Malel, You made it’, she took a few more steps until they were on top of a small hill. From there, she saw it. ‘Sea….’ her face lit up and a smile appeared. The wound had stopped bleeding completely. As she stood there, looking at the beautiful green land, full of trees and the Sea ‘The Land’s End’ Malel whispered.