They needed that tool. They had to have it.
Tired of staring at paperwork without accomplishing anything, he threw everything away and left his office, ignoring professors and colleagues who greeted him or tried to stop him for advice. He didn't want to talk to anyone, he needed to be alone. There was only one place in the entire school where he could be sure of not having to interact with another human being, and that was the "Silent Rooms".
Among the most important rooms in Al Haimat, those were important in how the Sand was granted in there. Not all the new Sand arriving at Al-Haimat was ready for use, much of it was shipped which still needs to be adjusted. So that its power reacts only to the vibrations of the Masters' instruments and not to any noise as happens in its natural state, the process is only possible within these places, whose particular internal structure isolates any external noise, creating a space of absolute silence in which, if you are alone, you can even hear your heartbeat.
In there, we can say, the Sand is tamed.
They are located in the deepest area of ??the school, where only high-ranking Masters can access, where studies and experiments on the Sand are carried out. There was a lot of activity in those caves converted into offices or laboratories, despite the cold and humidity that exuded from the stone walls and the darkness that only the light of a thousand torches could illuminate. Some spaces were open and you could peek inside to watch the experiments, while others were closed by thick doors. It's not easy to describe most of the things that were done there, the fact is that it was imperative not to disturb.
The entrances to the Rooms of Silence were closed by narrow doors carved from the rock. Externally it was difficult to notice them because they were easily camouflaged with the rest of the stone, only the presence of large steel handles, connected to a particular mechanism that allowed them to be opened, revealed their presence. The devices made a lot of noise when active, but it was only with them that the heavy doors could be moved which otherwise required the strength of two people. Daysam slipped through the narrow opening, entering a large oval room with walls covered in a mineral whose colors resemble amethyst stone. Even though it was a closed environment, an intense natural light filtered in from a non-visible point on the ceiling, high and narrow as if you were inside a well, the unusual color of the rock and the slight sparkle of the crystals gave the illusion of being floating inside a piece of sky and the calm of isolation was already palpable like a strong current of air. As the ear got used to it, faint sounds like fingers rubbing together or even breathing became loud.
Daysam let himself be locked inside. As soon as the thud of the door confirmed that he was isolated from the rest of the school, he immediately began to feel a little better.
That place gave him serenity, it was a refuge where he could briefly hide from responsibilities, but above all where he could meditate and make decisions more calmly. He took deep breaths, the air he expelled from his lungs echoed like the wind that crossed the canyon inside which the school was hidden, the light humidity gave him a slight shiver that made the hairs on his body stand on end. There was no evidence that he showed that those purple crystals had magical properties, but perhaps, beyond their ability to absorb sounds; they also managed to suck in negative influences, Daysam was almost convinced of this because, when he locked himself in there; it was the only moment in which he felt like he no longer had any ailments.
He had a Yasirpipe brought in, at that moment he felt the need to occupy the time.
The vibrations produced by the plates passed through him from head to toe with an intense force, the palm of his hand seemed to burn as he moved the sphere to perform the "Song of a Hundred Warriors". It was a very intense and threatening sequence of sounds, something that made one imagine the march of an army ready to fight. Although long and complex to perform, he had played it so many times that he knew it by heart and when he performed it, he made it look easy.
Suddenly there was some sort of explosion behind him, something hit him in the back interrupting him.
He fell to the ground, covering his head, instead of immediately getting up, he had the foresight to remain still where he was, feeling a violent presence above him slam from one side of the room to the other, making the crystals resonate. It took five or ten minutes for the force to subside, falling on top of him and making him think for a moment that he was about to be crushed. He peeked cautiously, Yellow Sand and fragments of a vase were scattered around him. Daysam hadn't realized when he entered the room that there was an open jar containing Unstable Sand behind him, perhaps forgotten by someone. It was forbidden to leave Sand unattended inside the "Rooms of Silence", someone could steal it or take it and use it thinking it was already harmonized. It was no surprise, therefore, that it had "attacked" him at the sound of the song, luckily for him, he had not been hurt but if the Gods had not protected him, he would now be mortally wounded.
Therefore, furious at this foolishness, when he came out of there, he wanted to know who it was, shouting so loudly that he gave himself a sore throat.
<< Honorable Daysam, it was just a slight oversight. >> said the manager, once found.
He was a high-ranking Master like Daysam and had been working for years in Al Haimat precisely in that research area; therefore, someone who knew the rules and the importance of following them carefully, but the way he lightly treated the problem made the Rector nervous.
<< I didn't think anyone would come in there during lunchtime. I left the vase momentarily intending to finish after work… >>
<< Don't leave things half done! Not in this school! >> thundered the Rector.
The colleague tried to justify himself, but this time he wasn't in the mood to listen to excuses.
<< The rules are for everyone, even for you. >> he said grimly, pointing his finger at all those who had gathered around him. << Just because you are Masters does not mean that you are above the rules... on the contrary! You should be the first to lead by example! And you! You…since you have not been able to follow the example, you will set an example. >>
Half an hour later, the echoing of the hissing “slaps” stopped.
The entire school, from the first-year students to the entire teaching staff, was astonished by the spectacle they had been forced to witness by order of the Rector. The Master guilty of not having completed his work lay unconscious and, on his knees, tied to a pole placed on the teachers' stand, his back now completely red with blood that continued to drip from the wounds.
In the great hall, a large room with a beehive roof and on whose central wall the symbol of the Sand Masters was carved, a heavy and tense quiet reigned. Among the students sitting on stone benches, some were crying, but they were so shocked by what they had seen that they hid their sobs, trying to repress them by pressing their mouths. They had the unreasonable fear of being the next to end up tied up and whipped… and it was more than justified, after what they had seen. They, as well as their teachers, did not understand why Rector Daysam had done such a barbaric thing. They had all been called in there with the lie of an important communication on the rules of the school, but when they had arrived, they had been greeted by the pleas of that man who tied like a beast to that pole placed scenically where everyone could see it, begged for the Rector to have mercy on him.
Daysam stood beside him until the room filled.
Then he spent a few words on the importance of the rules and why they had to be respected in the letter. Anyone who didn't do so would face a new type of disciplinary report. Thus, after the weeping Master was presented as a "disciplinary example", Daysam began to flog him.
Each scream, amplified by the harmonic structure of the hall, corresponded to a blow inflicted on the naked and defenseless back. Amid the terrified screams of the children and the horrified gasps of the adults, someone had tried to intervene, but the Rector had threatened to make anyone who dared to get in the way suffer the same fate, or even worse. Fear... but above all the fiery gaze of the man, had calmed every intervention.
<< This is what will happen from now on to anyone who doesn't respect the rules. >> announced Daysam at a certain point.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
His voice was devoid of humanity. While he spoke, he continued to hold the bloody whip in his hand, getting his hands dirty without being disgusted by it.
<
There was no response.
<< Well, I hope you all keep this in mind from now on, otherwise you have seen what the consequences are. I am the Rector and as such I must correct those who break the rules. >> he concluded, cold as rock.
Once the demonstration was over, he left the hall, ordering the workers to clean everything up before the next meeting.
He had to admit one thing: although his colleague Master had made him angry, once the punishment was over he was able to relax. It was a more than pleasant sensation, he almost hoped that someone else hadn't learned the lesson, he thought to himself, because he wouldn't have minded having to correct someone else like that.
<
<< Yes! Just stop ask me! >>
Sadin pressed the chalk so hard that it let out a soft whistle. Writing on the blackboards was almost more annoying than having to be constantly quiet, but there was little to grumble or chat about as long as they had the desert near them.
Basim checked the horizon of the rock path, there was still no sign of the exit Elamin had mentioned. How much longer did they have to walk among those sharp rocks before they considered themselves safe? The very safe step was anything but easy, many areas had been blocked by previous landslides and they had to climb the unstable piles of rock to be able to pass, At other points the path disappeared buried under the sand, leaving exposed islets of rock on which to jump safely.
They were on their third day of travel in the confines of the Desert of Silence, the strangest he had ever undertaken.
Not being able to speak was a bizarre experience, he had never been a talker by nature but in those days the pressing need to communicate became as tempting as thirst, even just making a sound he felt would make him feel better later. But the Sand was always alert, with its grains ready to react to the slightest noise. One day he had coughed and although he had covered his mouth to muffle the noise, the sand had rippled the surface of the dunes. He and Sadin were almost going crazy… and thinking that it was normal for the Gatherers instead.
Incredibly, Elamin was managing to move without making a sound. He was as if he were walking on air, graceful as a ghost.
When the boys walked too fast, he grabbed them by the shoulders forcing them to slow down, but if they made too much noise, he punched them lightly on the legs. He knew everything about the desert, during the time they lived together he had taught them some survival techniques typical of those parts, what to do and not to do if, for an unfortunate reason, they ended up in the desert and a thousand other lessons. It was lucky that they had him by their side, without him they would surely already be dead.
Elamin often used hand signs to communicate, he had taught him simple gestures to memorize to indicate words such as "attention", "rest" and so on. They used the blackboards only to communicate more complex or more important thoughts, such as health status. The old man often did this to ask the boys if they were okay, aware of how hard that experience was for them.
<
Elamin shook his head. On his whiteboard, he had written three reasons why it was a bad idea:
°Too steep
°Danger of landslides
°Silent killers
Both Sadin and Basim pointed to the third option by asking what the “Silent Assassins” were. The man drew a camel spider whose size was, compared to the little man he added next to it, almost as big as a dromedary, perhaps even bigger. The boys were speechless and insistedently asked Elamin if he was making fun of them. The “no” in large letters made them look at the mountain walls with fear. It was a common belief that there was no animal life in that arid land, and instead incredibly "something" lived there and like the Sand wanted to kill.
At sunset they set up camp, even though they were in a hurry to get out of there, it was not wise to face the cold long night; However, even sleeping required attention and maximum safety such as preparing a shelter among the rocks or setting traps in case of the arrival, albeit unlikely, of some nocturnal visitor. They took turns keeping watch, it was appropriate for someone to stay awake while the night passed slowly and silently, illuminated by a segment of the moon. Basim took the second watch that evening, the next day he would alternate with Sadin who at that moment was sleeping soundly, albeit with a frowning expression that did not give the impression that he was resting well. Elamin always took the first shift, as well as the longest. If he could have stayed up all night but as a guide, he too had to rest, to be clear and alert the next day.
The fire kept Basim company with its warmth. Now and then he shook his head, realizing that he was hypnotized by the light like a moth.
In those moments his mind began to wander to thoughts and memories and he only realized it by chance when something like the crackling of wood distracted him. He tried to stay as focused as possible, but it wasn't easy when your mind is your only company; and it was trying to talk to him about things that he didn't want to face at that moment, both out of cowardice and to deny reality. He looked at the scar on the back of his hand, sooner or later he would have to deal with what he had done to Abu Wasaa.
The next day the journey continued at first light.
As the sun rose into the sky, the heat also increased, quickly taking one's breath away.
The trail didn't get better, it was certainly better than crossing the desert directly. That day, however, something new and different happens. They had stopped to eat, and as Elamin drew a rough map of the likely area they were in on the blackboard, Basim's gaze was caught by something on the horizon, close to where the heat emanating from the ground made it shiver.
It took him a few seconds to realize it was a person.
It was tall and wore a very light-yellow tunic, it had long hair that partly fell over its shoulders and was almost the same shade as the dress, just darker, he couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman from the distance, but he saw its smiling expression very well and was waving it hand in greeting. Basim reported this to Elamin... pure terror appeared on the man's face. He haphazardly collected their things; his hands were shaking so much that everything kept falling off. He didn't bother picking them up, he was in such a hurry to get ready to leave... or perhaps it was better to say run away. He pushed the boys so that their backs to the figure and grabbed them by the chin every time they tried to turn to look at “it”, trying to tell them with their eyes not to do so. With trembling hands, he wrote sketchily on his blackboard what he knew:
<
He knew they were mentally asking him "who" he or she was, but "what" was more of the term.
<< I don't even know what it is, whether a mirage or a ghost. I only know that many of the pickers who saw it never returned. Those who lived to tell the tale only said it felt like dying. Now that I see it, I think I understand what they meant. It usually appears closer to the center of the desert; I've never heard of it appearing here in the borders as well. >>
With the sleeve of his clothes, he erased and rewrote, his eyes never stopped staring at that mysterious presence that continued to smile and greet.
<< From now on I will proceed behind you to make sure you don't turn around. Ignore it as much as you can, pretend it's not there! Think about something else, focus on anything else! But never turn around to look at it! Tomorrow we should reach our destination, but if by tomorrow morning the "mirage" has not yet disappeared and is closer to us, we are in trouble. >>
Even without speaking, Elamin's behavior had terrified the boys.
Which monster took the form of a person with a friendly smile to kill? The more they tried to explain it, the more anxiety ate them from the inside like a termite devouring wood. At that point, they wanted to run and get away from that thing immediately, but he had to continue to keep a careful pace so as not to make any noise. Elamin had told him to think about something else, but it wasn't easy to distract their mind at a time like this, but they forced themselves to do so for their sanity.
Sadin began repeating the tribe's nursery rhymes and songs, playing with the threads of his clothes or touching his hair. Basim instead hugged the Yasirpipe and, despite the weight of the instrument, pretended to play it, moving his fingers on the invisible strings.
For the rest of the journey they did nothing else, but curiosity was a really strong temptation to resist, sometimes it seemed that the head was moving by itself but Elamin was always ready to stop them. He was the only one who dared to pay attention to the mirage, but only to make sure it stayed away from them. It was always there, behind them, even if he never saw it move it was always at the same distance, never too close... and unfortunately never too far away, always and in any case at their heels. Cursed demon, may the Gods strike him down.
A moment of panic came when Sadin, exasperated, turned to throw a stone at him and nearly shouted profanity. Elamin blocked him with all his strength, begging him in desperate whispers to calm down and not let his emotions get to him. The exit was close, he had to hold on a little longer.
When night fell again, none of the three could sleep.
The being's presence made them too uncomfortable to allow them to rest properly, but then again, how could they know they could be killed at any moment?
With the fire lit, they wondered if by throwing the embers at them it would go away and leave them alone... but they didn't dare to make this attempt.
The next day, the miracle: the exit!
If only they could shout, the happiness would have echoed to the top of the mountains.
They were safe, soon they would abandon that infernal desert and its dangers, finally heading to a safe place where they could make all the noise they wanted. At that moment Elamin, distracted from comforting the boys with energetic pats on the back who were trying not to cry too loudly, realized out of the corner of his eye that something was moving. His heart stopped for a moment and all his hair stood on end: the mirage was approaching. It didn't run, he only walked quickly, it was still a threatening stride that repelled an attack and that was enough for Elamin to make him break the rule of silence.
<< Run. >> he said terrified.
In that brief moment when both Basim and Sadin realized the situation, they did as told, spurred by a sudden new vigor.
As they ran, they made a lot of noise which the Sand didn't like and began to unleash high waves that wanted to fall on them. At that moment nothing around them mattered, the survival instinct only screamed at them to think about running and not to dare stop until they had passed the gap. The echo of their race resounded deafeningly as the rock walls surrounded them, defending them from the desert that grew further and further away behind them and hopefully also its deadliest inhabitant. Only once they had passed the gap, once again in territory belonging to man, did they dare to stop. They were breathless, full of pain, and with their hearts exploding… for the last time, they risked a look behind them.
The mirage was no longer there.
<< A-are we s-saved? >> stammered Basim, speaking for the first time in a long time.
Elamin nodded, smiling at him.