The group stood at the edge of the small, glistening basin, their eyes fixed on the dark, reflective surface of the water. It was an oasis in the middle of a nightmare, a rare pocket of serenity in a land that seemed designed to torment them. The gentle lapping of the water was a soothing melody, stark against the cacophony of horrors they had endured for weeks. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of blood and sweat that had clung to them for too long. Xin, Belial, and Raven exchanged wary glances, their instincts screaming at them to be cautious. But the pull of the water was too strong, their bodies too desperate for relief. It promised respite, however temporary, from the agony of their journey.
Raven was the first to break. He dropped to his knees at the basin's edge, his hands trembling as he cupped the water and brought it to his lips. The cool liquid was a revelation, a balm to his parched throat. He drank greedily, his body shuddering with relief. Then, almost impulsively, he plunged his face into the water, submerging himself completely. The basin was deeper than it looked, deep enough for him to lose himself for a moment. His mind swam with fleeting images of home, of warmth, of a time before all this suffering. When he resurfaced, gasping for breath, water dripping from his face, for the first time in weeks, he felt something close to normal.
Raven, ever the pragmatist, did not hesitate. Without a word, he stepped forward, his full body armor and all, and sank into the water. The others watched in stunned silence as he disappeared beneath the surface. Minutes passed, tension mounting with every second. The ripples faded, leaving only eerie stillness in their wake. Just as Xin was about to call his name, Raven finally emerged. It was as if he had been reborn. His armor, once battered and scarred from endless battles, now gleamed as though freshly forged. Even his visor, cracked and fogged only moments before, was now pristine. The sight was almost supernatural.
Belial's eyes narrowed as he studied Raven. "How the hell did that happen?" he asked, voice tinged with disbelief. "Your armor… it's like it's brand new."
Raven tilted his head, water streaming from his helmet. "It has self-regenerative properties," he said, voice calm and measured. "As long as I have enough ether to sustain it, the armor repairs itself. The water must have accelerated the process."
Xin was next. Stripping off his tattered outer layers, he stepped into the basin, the cool water enveloping him like a cocoon. He submerged himself completely, letting the water wash away weeks of grime and exhaustion. His body relaxed, muscles loosening from the relentless tension that had gripped him for so long. He let himself drift for a moment, staring up through the water at the distorted shapes of his companions. When he emerged, he felt renewed, lighter, clearer. He waded back to the edge, where Raven handed him a piece of cloth to dry off, his eyes still wide with the lingering sensation of peace.
Belial was last. He lingered at the basin's edge, eyes darting warily to the horizon. He reeked of blood, methane, sulfur, and other horrors best left unnamed. His hair, usually a messy, rugged charm, clung to his scalp in greasy clumps. He looked feral, his eyes wild, his face streaked with dirt and dried blood. But the water's call was irresistible. It tugged at something primal, something deep within him that craved cleansing—not just of his body, but of his soul.
With a heavy sigh, he stepped in, the water lapping at his boots. Slowly, cautiously, he sank into it, half-expecting it to burn him. But as the coolness enveloped him, tension melted from his muscles. He scrubbed at his skin, the filth peeling away in murky clouds. He submerged himself completely, letting the water steal his breath, letting it strip away the grime, the guilt, the weight of survival. When he finally emerged, he looked almost human again. His damp hair fell in loose waves around his face. His eyes, though still haunted, no longer held the same madness.
He looked… presentable.
As much as anyone could be in a place like this.
For a moment, the group allowed themselves to relax. They had found water, a rare and precious resource in this desolate wasteland. They had washed away the physical remnants of their ordeal, if not the mental scars.
But as they sat by the basin, savoring the fleeting sense of peace, they realized they had forgotten one crucial detail.
The sun was rising.
The first rays of light pierced the horizon, casting long shadows across the glassy landscape. The group froze, their relief replaced by panic. They had no shelter, no protection from the sun's deadly rays. In the catacombs, they had been shielded from the sun's wrath, but here, in the open, they were exposed.
"We need to find cover!" Xin shouted, his voice tinged with desperation. "Now!"
They scrambled to their feet, their eyes darting around the barren landscape. But there was nothing—no caves, no trees, no structures to shield them. The sun was rising rapidly, its light growing brighter, more intense. They could feel the heat already, a searing wave that made their skin prickle.
Raven acted quickly. He grabbed Xin and Belial, pulling them close. Without a word, he spread his arms, his massive frame casting a shadow over the two of them.
Xin and Belial crouched low, their eyes squeezed shut, bracing for the inevitable burn.
But it never came.
After a few moments, Xin dared to open his eyes. The sunlight was all around them, but it didn't burn. It was as if the oasis itself was shielding them, creating a bubble of safety in the midst of the deadly rays. He stood slowly, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"It's… it's not burning us," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This place… it's like a reinforced greenhouse effect. The sunlight can't penetrate it."
Belial let out a shaky laugh, his relief palpable. "Well, I'll be damned. We actually caught a break for once."
The group took a moment to process their good fortune. This oasis wasn't just a source of water—it was a sanctuary. A place where they could rest, recover, and regroup without fear of the sun or the monsters that roamed the land. It was a paradise in the middle of hell.
They decided to make camp, if only for a little while. They still had some meat they had saved from the catacombs, and the oasis provided a safe place to cook and eat. For the first time in weeks, they allowed themselves to relax, if only slightly. They ate in silence, savoring the simple pleasure of a meal that didn't taste like ash and despair.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they took turns keeping watch, though the oasis seemed to repel the creatures of the wasteland. The air was still, the only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the basin's edge. It was peaceful, almost unnervingly so.
But even in this sanctuary, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The reflections in the water seemed to shift when they weren't looking, the glassy ground warping and twisting in ways that defied explanation. The shadows at the edge of the oasis seemed darker, more menacing, as if something lurked just beyond the light.
Xin sat by the basin, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He couldn't shake the feeling that their respite was temporary, that the nightmare wasn't over. But for now, they were safe. And in a place like this, that was enough.
As the sun began to set, casting the land in hues of orange and red, the group prepared to move on. They didn't know what lay ahead, but they knew they couldn't stay here forever. The oasis was a blessing, but it was also a reminder of how fragile their survival was.
They packed their weapons, their bodies and spirits somewhat restored. As they left the oasis behind, they couldn't help but glance back, their eyes lingering on the glistening water. It was a fleeting moment of peace in a world that offered none.