A Beachside Stroll

Current Location: Xhan Tarn
Main Characters: Harril

        Harril spread his fingers through the sand in wonder. It was light, with fine grains. He let it slip through his fingers as he lifted it, before going for another handful. He had a face-splitting smile, like a kid getting his favorite candy.

        What… are you doing? Alpha and Omega’s voice drifted into his thoughts, sounding confused.
            
        “The sand… it’s been so long since I was home.” Harril said wistfully, sifting his hands through the grains.
            
        This isn’t your home, child. This is Xhan Tarn. Alpha and Omega sounded amused, but also annoyed.
            
        “I know that… but it’s still nostalgic. Even if the sand is softer and lighter.” Harril responded, finally rising to dust his knees and hands off while he stared up at the Suns.
            
        Find Harbor City. The people there will help you. Alpha and Omega directed; he could almost feel the heat of the Suns pointing him in a direction. He followed it.
            
        “Why couldn’t you just tell me the location? You are the Suns, surely you must know.” Harril asked as respectfully as he could. Though he was genuinely confused.
            
        I am… unable to disclose the locations of my temples. It is the matter of things. They said hesitantly. Harril accepted the answer with a nod and continued moving.
            
        The heat of the Suns pleasantly caressed his body, powering each of his steps with solar energy. He basked in their radiation with a smile. He was peppier than usual. Maybe it was the fact he was back on sand. Or maybe it was that Alpha and Omega were actually talking to him. Maybe it was that his mission was progressing so finely. Or maybe it was all of the above.
            
        Harril gleefully walked nonetheless. He walked as the Suns guided him, feeling their energy mix with the salty breeze of the beach. He took sips of water once every two hours or so. With the solar energy he didn’t need much sustenance to keep him going, even in the heat. It was nowhere near Kazarial heat, so he didn’t even sweat.
            
        A few seagulls flitted by and squawked at him. One even tried to peck at him. He caught it and sent it flying, flapping into the sea. He walked about three hundred feet from the water’s edge, admiring the sapphire glinting of the ocean’s waves. He chatted up Alpha and Omega occasionally, though they rarely responded.
            
        “So how long have you lit Solaris?” No response.
            
        “Did someone make you?” 
            
        Yes
            
        “Who?” No response.
            
        “Why did you choose me?” No response.
            
        “Why do you want Krauser dead?”
            
        He was responsible for many things we do not approve of.
            
        “Like what?” No response.
            
        It continued like that for the whole six hours until sunset. Once the crimson-orange rays of the setting Suns criss-crossed the horizon, Harril finally stopped. He collapsed into the hot sand. Though he wasn’t tired, it reminded him of what he had always done when he was at home in the Kazarial Desert. Every night he would drop into the sand, burying himself so the wind wouldn’t rip the flesh from his bones. It made him ideal prey for a wandering sandwyrm, but he could always deal with them summarily.
            
        His armor was made from the chitin of those sandwyrms foolish enough to challenge him when he was trying to sleep. Maybe a creature of the sands of Xhan would make an attempt on his life. He’d be able to get some action then maybe.
            
        It had been a long trek all the way from Darkmire Swamp. Even with the powerful ability to cross through the shadows and run hundreds of miles per hour, it had taken the better part of a month to reach Xhan Tarn. He still had no idea how far he was from Harbor City. He had heard Xhan Tarn was thousands of miles long. He might be crossing the massive beach for another month yet.
            
        As he closed his eyes, Harril thought of Alpha and Omega. They filled his mind most minutes of the day now. He slept to the thought of them. He walked to the sight of them. He even dreamt of their brilliance.

        To be continued...