God’s Tomb

The thunderous roar claimed lives, while the eroding sands sang a serene dirge of death.

Leia had always believed battlefields were defined by slaughter and blood, a relentless dance of death until the enemy’s heartbeat ceased.

There was no room for hesitation—draw the blade, strike, and survive. In her world, stripped of color, only black, white, and gray remained, the slashing wind and swirling sand embodying the singular purpose of killing.

Until a stranger entered her vision.

Selina’s arrival was like a brush of color restoring a faded canvas, life defying the grip of death.

The air, once thick with blood and decay, now carried a faint, elegant fragrance. Her dual daggers wove through the chaos with masterful precision, dispelling the murderous intent.

“Need help, classmate? This looks tough for one person,” Selina’s clear voice rang out, her black hair carrying a delicate scent as it brushed past Leia’s nose. She turned, flashing a sidelong smile, her daggers dancing like butterflies.

What speed! Leia thought, awestruck. She’d heard such praise countless times, always directed at her.

Now, for the first time, she felt genuine admiration for another’s skill.

But the crisis wasn’t over.

Seizing the moment Selina created by deflecting the sandstorm’s assault, Leia drew her half-unsheathed katana without hesitation.

Lightning crackled as the blade gleamed, purple arcs intertwining with her violet eyes.

With a swift turn, she unleashed a devastating slash toward the stone door spewing sand, the thunderous strike obliterating the decayed aura.

The storm subsided, the door fully opened, and all disturbances ceased.

Selina waved away the lingering dust, sneezing cutely as it irritated her nose.

Leia sheathed her katana with practiced speed, as if reluctant to let the blade linger.

The power of her strike was undeniable—keeping such a weapon concealed was understandable.

As the clear sound of the blade returning to its sheath echoed, Leia finally turned to study her unexpected ally.

Selina’s silky black hair flowed over a simple yet elegant cotton dress. Her unadorned face radiated natural beauty, exuding a serene calm that soothed the soul. She stood there, a vision of tranquil years.

“Who are you?” Leia asked, her tone stiff.

“Like you, a candidate. Selina,” she replied with a smile.

“Your strength doesn’t seem like a typical freshman’s…” Leia observed.

“And yours does? Care to share your real identity, Leia?” Selina teased, leaning forward playfully.

“My name’s all you need for now. My identity… I can’t reveal until the exam ends,” Leia said, gripping her katana tighter.

“See? You have secrets, I have secrets. Why fuss over mine? Just know I’m on your side,” Selina said, shrugging.

“What do you mean?” Leia’s brow furrowed, a rare flicker of emotion crossing her face.

“Is it that hard to understand? You were struggling alone. No matter how strong you are, a partner makes sudden crises easier to handle,”

Selina said, smoothly sheathing her daggers with a meaningful glance toward the tomb’s depths.

Her reasons for helping were twofold.

First, Leia was her chosen candidate to take first place.

If Leia were eliminated, finding another worthy of her points would be difficult.

Handing points to someone too weak could harm them, thrusting them into unwanted scrutiny.

Second, en route, Selina and Aelir learned from fleeing candidates that Leia had distracted Bruka, allowing Aelir to escape. Without her, Aelir would’ve been captured.

There was a third reason: Leia’s aura.

Elves were acutely sensitive to energies, and Leia’s was complex—blood, scorched lightning, and a faint trace of divinity.

In Seliris, divinity was both a blessing and a curse. Those who could withstand it gained divine favor; those who couldn’t were consumed, their bodies twisted into grotesque forms.

Leia’s familiarity with the tomb, a site of divine conflict, suggested she wasn’t ordinary.

To uncover the sand god’s identity from the chalice’s vision, Leia was an indispensable guide.

“With your strength, you could easily pass the exam. There’s no need to risk this tomb,” Leia said, unusually patient, perhaps due to Selina’s aid.

“Then why must you enter?” Selina countered.

“I have my reasons,” Leia replied.

“So do I,” Selina said, her smile blooming.

“I won’t stop you, but entrants must agree to strict terms: absolute obedience, unconditional aid in battle, and no hostility toward me. Failure means expulsion—or death,” Leia stated.

“Do you agree?” Selina asked.

Leia fell silent.

“So, that’s a yes?” Selina pressed.

“Only those with the means to resist divinity can enter. Without it, you’ll become part of the sand,” Leia warned.

“Are you talking about withstanding divinity?” Selina tilted her head, her playful gesture clashing with the gravity of the moment. Her body often betrayed her with such girlish habits.

“You know about it, so you must have a way,” Leia said, nodding after a pause. “In return for your help, I’ll protect you if danger arises. If the path becomes impassable, leave first.”

Her tone softened, a rare warmth breaking through.

“I like this arrangement,” Selina agreed cheerfully.

They sealed their pact.

Selina conjured a silver magical thread, forming a glowing butterfly.

“Tell her not to worry. I’ll be back soon,” she instructed, sending it toward Aelir outside the tomb.

“Someone’s waiting for you?” Leia asked.

“A little sister who needs looking after. She’s outside, waiting,” Selina confirmed.

They entered the tomb’s main chamber.

The oppressive aura seemed cowed by Leia’s lightning, retreating.

The vast underground structure, built beneath the desert, defied human engineering.

At its center, atop layered steps, sat a heavy stone coffin etched with intricate patterns, linked to the wall’s murals.

Selina studied the murals, her gaze settling on the coffin.

Touching the rough walls, sand crumbled under her fingers, the air thick with ancient decay.

Her curiosity wasn’t driven by the crystal swords—gifts from the fire goddess—trembling at her neck.

Noticing a sound, she turned to Leia, whose katana vibrated, faint purple lightning sparking at its hilt.

She’s tied to a god too? A lightning deity? Selina wondered.

As she pondered, Leia approached the pyramid-like steps leading to the coffin.

Her violet eyes, clouded with dark mist, fixed on it. Each step echoed heavily, as if striking a heart.

The air grew denser, breathing difficult. Only Selina’s elven resilience kept her upright; a human would’ve collapsed.

As Leia reached the top, Selina couldn’t hold back. “Wait!”

Leia’s hand, poised to touch the coffin, froze. She turned, puzzled. “What?”

“Is opening that coffin your goal?” Selina asked, her tone grave.

“Yes,” Leia replied.

“Who’s buried here? Or rather, who was this tomb built for—a god?”

No human, not even emperors or elven queens, warranted such a grand tomb.

Given the clues, only a divine being fit. “You don’t know who’s buried here?” Leia asked, frowning.

“I know it’s tied to a god, but not their identity,” Selina admitted. Her only clue was the vague vision from the chalice, too ambiguous to pinpoint.

She’d planned to probe Leia gradually, but her direct approach to the coffin caught her off guard. A moment later, and they might’ve been entangled in a divine conflict. “Coming here clueless isn’t wise,” Leia said, closing her eyes wearily.

She’d assumed Selina was a fellow seeker of divine relics, but now saw her as a half-informed novice. “The god of sand, war, and death—Seth,” Leia revealed after a long pause.

“This involves an ancient divine war and its remnants. I’m here to…”

Before she could finish, the tomb quaked. The heartbeat resumed, louder.

Thump, thump, thump

Sandstorms swirled, yellow dust pouring from the coffin’s seams.

“He’s awakening early!” Leia shouted, struggling to stand as the ground shook.

With no time to think, she drew her katana, its lightning-charged blade slashing at the coffin to halt the resurgence.