Patch of Druid-Chapter 20 – Encounter with the Stone Demon

The sun had nearly vanished beyond the horizon, casting the desert in the blood-red glow of dusk. The last rays of light stretched long shadows over the dunes, and the air was steadily cooling — the cold desert night was near.

Alex and Lyra carefully passed the glowing runes, heading toward the first of the buildings. Carved into the rock, the walls were uneven, cracked by years of wind and erosion. Faint traces of long-forgotten inscriptions still lingered on their surfaces, now nearly worn away by sand and time.

Approaching the first house, they peeked through a small rectangular window. It was dark inside, but even without light, it was clear the interior had been completely ransacked.

"Empty," Alex muttered.

The door was long gone, as were the furnishings and all equipment. Over the years, wind had crept inside, covering the floor in nearly a meter of sand.

"Are we sleeping here?" Alex asked, glancing at Lyra.

Desert nights were freezing, and while the building was open, it still offered some protection from the wind and sand.

"Let's check the other house," Lyra replied.

They moved to the neighboring building. It looked nearly identical to the first — the same cracked walls, the same emptiness inside. But here, less sand had blown in, and the structure seemed in better shape.

"Maybe this one?" Lyra said, looking around. "Less wind, less to clean."

Alex nodded.

"Works for me."

But they didn't have time to unpack before the silence of the desert was torn by a terrifying roar.

The sound was deep, inhuman, echoing across the entire area. The ground trembled slightly, and the air around them filled with tension.

"Stone demon..." Lyra whispered.

Alex's heart pounded as he cautiously peeked through the building's entrance.

Atop one of the boulders near the runes stood a massive creature, over three meters tall. A true giant, built of thick slabs of stone that looked as if they could collapse at any moment — yet held together in perfect harmony. Its body seemed a part of the desert itself — the rocks it was made from were coated in sand and dust, and between the cracks pulsed a red glow, like burning coal trapped inside a mountain.

The demon had no mouth, yet a low, vibrating rumble came from deep within it — like a storm thundering underground. Its eyes, twin blazing ruby torches, shone with an inhuman intelligence. This wasn't a mindless beast. It knew they were there.

The beast tried to cross the rune line, but an invisible barrier blocked its path. With every move it made, the ancient symbols glowed brighter, illuminating the desert night.

The demon struck the barrier with its massive hand, making the ground shake. The runes flared with blue light, repelling the blow.

"Will it hold?" Alex asked, eyes fixed on the monster.

Lyra stayed silent for a moment, her hand gripping her weapon trembling slightly.

"I hope so," she said softly.

The demon didn't relent. It stared at them through the glowing barrier, its fiery eyes probing their souls. It wasn't just of the desert — it was the desert. Its wrath.

Alex felt his throat tighten in fear.

The runes still shone, blocking the stone demon's path, but something was changing. The air thickened, as if reality itself trembled under an unnatural force. And then...

They began to appear.

At first — shadows, blurred shapes shifting beside the towering colossus. Moments later, the desert darkness came alive, and more demons emerged from the void.

Dark, serpentine shapes slithered from the sand. Their scales gleamed under the pale rune-light, and their crimson eyes burned like embers. They had heavy bodies, over two meters long, with forked tongues flickering in the air, sensing the scent of mortals. Their movements were smooth, sinister, the sand trembling beneath them like water stirred by wind.

Other creatures began to materialize behind them.

But what truly chilled Alex's blood was above.

High overhead, several massive silhouettes circled. Like shadows against the stars — huge batlike creatures with wide, translucent wings, seemingly woven from dark wind itself. Their eyes glowed violet, and every beat of their wings summoned gusts of air, as if storms served them willingly.

"Wind demons..." Lyra whispered, her voice nearly drowned by one beast's shriek overhead.

Alex looked at her.

"What are they all doing here?"

"It means we're not welcome."

Beneath the stone demon, sand shifted near the runes. The serpents slithered closer, hissing softly, searching for weakness in the barrier.

One of the wind demons swooped lower — only to crash against the invisible wall ten meters above. Its wings flapped violently, and the air around it rippled. The runes flared brighter, reacting to the provocation. But Alex saw something else. For just a second, as the wind struck the barrier, the lines of magic flickered — like stretched thread straining to hold.

He stood frozen, surrounded by the horde. He could feel their stares — hungry, furious... and something else. Something he couldn't name. The monsters attacked wildly, as if unaware the runes were still intact.

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Trying to break in.

Alex's throat tightened again.

Then he felt a warm touch on his shoulder.

"Don't worry," Lyra said, her voice calm but alert. "We're safe here. The runes will hold."

Alex wanted to believe her. He truly did. But the way the monsters behaved...

The serpents slammed their snouts against the barrier, recoiling as the invisible wall zapped them with blue light. Wind demons dived, trying to pierce it with gales that raised sand clouds and turned the air into a chaotic whirlwind.

The runes blazed brighter, repelling the assaults. But the barrier didn't crack.

An hour passed.

No breach.

One by one, the creatures began to retreat.

The serpents slithered back into the sands, disappearing into crevices as if they'd never existed. Smaller demons melted into the darkness, their armored forms creaking with each step. The wind demons spun once more overhead, then slowly rose and disappeared into the starry night, fading behind the dunes.

Only the stone demon remained.

It stood motionless, watching them. Its burning eyes scanned them, as if assessing, memorizing. Its massive body, like a walking mountain, seemed one with the desert around it.

Then, without a sound, it turned and vanished behind the dunes, leaving behind only the echo of its heavy steps and a faint tremor in the earth.

Silence finally settled around the barrier.

Now and then, lone demons approached the runes, testing their strength. A scorpion struck with its claws, a snake slithered close, a wind demon swept low, stirring dust. But they were half-hearted attempts — like they knew this night wasn't theirs.

"They're gone, but..." Alex began, glancing at Lyra.

"But they'll return — when we least expect it," she finished.

"We need to recover. As soon as the sun rises, we move," Lyra said, looking at Alex with seriousness.

He didn't need the reminder. He knew their safety was only temporary, and every moment spent here brought risk. He sighed and nodded, casting one last glance at the vanishing demons. Then he turned back inside.

The room they'd chosen was bare and cold. Naked stone walls reflected the faint moonlight pouring through a gap in the wall. Sand, gathered over years, muffled their footsteps, making the place feel even more silent and abandoned.

They laid out bedding taken from the slavers and wrapped themselves in thin covers made from old clothes.

For the next hour, they spoke quietly — about the demons, the night's events, and the next day's plan. Fatigue crept in. Alex felt his eyelids grow heavy, thoughts turning into fragmented images. He was drifting when he heard Lyra's sleepy whisper.

"I-it's cold..."

Without waiting for a reply, she scooted her bedding closer and curled up against his side without hesitation.

Alex froze, feeling the warmth of her body against him. For a second, he didn't know how to respond. His heart beat faster, thoughts scattering at the sudden closeness.

Though smaller, Lyra's body was stronger — shaped by years of training. Her build was lean and muscular, and he could feel it clearly as she pressed into him. Her skin was warm despite the night chill, her breath quickened, as if she wasn't used to such moments.

He caught the scent of sand tangled in her hair. She shivered slightly, pressing tighter against his side, instinctively seeking warmth and safety.

Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her. Gently, carefully — as if afraid to startle her. His hand rested on her shoulder, fingers softly gripping the fabric of her tunic. Lyra stirred, then sighed, relaxing in his embrace.

"...Thanks," she murmured, barely audible.

Her breathing slowed. Her body stopped trembling. And Alex felt the tension that had gripped him for hours slowly melt away.

Outside, the desert remained restless. Wind howled between the rocks, and distant echoes of monsters still called from beyond the dunes. Yet here, in this quiet, modest shelter, with Lyra curled beside him, she was the only thing that mattered.

He closed his eyes, letting her warmth and his exhaustion finally carry him away.

Tomorrow, they would fight again. But tonight — at least for a little while — they could rest.