A Refuge in the Mountains


    Akashma and Tlandar had reached Zha’Quari Village, a secluded tribal settlement nestled deep within the Salgaran Mountains. They had narrowly escaped the Xel’Quari, the relentless predator that had been stalking them.


    “I thought we were done for,” Tlandar exhaled, still catching his breath.


    Akashma glanced at him with a knowing smirk. “That’s natural—for you. You’ve never faced the true dangers of Astashica. But I was trained for this. These threats are second nature to me.”


    Tlandar shook his head, still in awe. “Let’s keep moving. I don’t want to stand around and wait for another creature to find us.”


    The two pressed forward, stepping onto the village’s main path, where they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Temsek villagers going about their daily routines. The air was thick with the scent of cooked meats, fresh herbs, and smoldering firewood.


    The village center was marked by a great communal fireplace, where a large cauldron bubbled over a roaring flame. A villager stirred the thick stew, its fragrant aroma drifting through the settlement.


    Despite the sense of peace, Tlandar remained alert. The Salgarans of this village were skilled survivors, hardened by the mountain’s dangers. Even here, vigilance was paramount.


    “We should keep moving,” Akashma said. “We’re close now.”


    Leaving Zha’Quari Village behind, they entered a forested trail—the final stretch leading to their destination: The Sanctum of Orchids.


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    <h2>The Sanctum of Orchids</h2>


    As they ascended the path, monumental pillars began to emerge from the dense jungle, towering on either side of the cobblestone road. Each ancient column was entwined with lush vines and exotic flora, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings depicting legends of the Asemeri race and the rise and fall of the Xothek Empire.


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    “This road leads directly to the Sanctum of Orchids,” Akashma said. “We’re nearly there—no turning back now.”


    Tlandar studied her expression. “You seem familiar with this place.”


    Akashma nodded. “Of course. This is my home.”


    A strange sense of calm settled over Tlandar. The looming tension from the Xel’Quari encounter faded, replaced by something else—a feeling of sanctuary.


    “There’s no danger here, at least not until we reach the Sanctum’s gates,” Akashma continued. “If the Xel’Quari had followed us, the Salgaran scouts would have already seen it, and a war party would have driven it back into the shadows.”


    Tlandar hesitated. “You’re telling me those monsters—the Xel’Quari—fear something?”


    Akashma gave him a sharp glance. “They fear us.”


    She gestured toward the distant entrance of the Sanctum of Orchids, where two Salgaran warriors stood guard. Their dark red cloaks fluttered in the wind, and beneath them, their kuprix armor gleamed with a dull, obsidian sheen. Each warrior held a long spear, its bladed tip glinting in the dim light.


    “These are the Sanctum’s defenders—scouts trained under Chieftain Salgar herself,” Akashma explained. “They are among the finest warriors in Salgar, raised to repel incursions from rogue Asemeri chieftains and any who dare trespass into these lands.”


    Tlandar exhaled, taking it all in.


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    <h2>The Gates of the Sanctum</h2>


    As they reached the towering guard post, one of the female warriors stepped forward. She lowered her spear slightly but held her ground, her piercing gaze fixed on Akashma.


    “Welcome home, Akashma,” she said.


    Akashma nodded in greeting, and the warriors stepped aside, parting the way for them to pass.


    Beyond the sentries, they entered the final village of their journey. Unlike Zha’Quari, this settlement was larger, busier, and more structured—a true gateway to the hidden city beyond.


    At the far end of the village, carved into the face of a colossal mountain, stood the Sanctum of Orchids'' grand gate. It was a massive pair of stone doors, seamlessly embedded into the rock. The engravings upon them told stories of forgotten legends, unbroken oaths, and the silent watchers who had guarded these lands for centuries.


    Tlandar stared in awe.


    “Akashma… this is it,” he whispered. “This is the Sanctum of Orchids.”


    Akashma turned to him with a small smile. “Prepare yourself, Tlandar. We’re about to enter the heart of Salgar.”


    Tlandar clenched his fists, excitement building within him.


    “Then let’s not keep it waiting.”


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