Asoke picked up the dagger from the box and looked at it. He held it before, but this time it felt different. It wasn't a simple object to him anymore, it felt more personal. He couldn't explain this feeling at all; because it was the first time he felt such sensation. He shivered having something familiar to dream he couldn't understand.

"Jarred," Lestan on his left side said bringing him back to reality.

Asoke looked at him only too notice that floor behind them vanished and a boulder fell from above and dragged the prince to the hole. He widened his eyes in terrified expression. What just happened here? He thought and started to panic when suddenly felt a pulling sensation. The boulder flied back to where it came from and Lestan returned to his previous place. He quickly jumped to the wall and clung to it. Boulder fell again cracking some of the edge and fell to the hole again.

Lestan looked at him a little confused. Asoke now felt that the ground was shaking. He immediately looked up to see another boulder to hit him this time. It was just above him, so he didn't have any time to dodge it. He squeezed his dagger with whole his might and felt another pulling sensation. It forced him to turn his head to Lestan again. When the sensation ended he looked again up in panic to see the boulder was much higher. He didn't think long to jump to the wall and cling to it just like the black haired boy did.

Just like in Lestan's case boulder hit the floor in spot he was standing before and fell to the hole. Asoke just reversed time for the first time; it was a strange sensation,but it felt right for some reason. He looked at Lestan and realized he was looking at him as well. They both were clinging to the wall, panting and staring at each other. Earth was still shaking; dust and small rocks falling down like rain. Lestan suddenly shook his head like he was reminding himself what is going on. He looked around and up and then again at Asoke.

"Come on, we have to jump quickly." Lestan yelled that Asoke could hear him with that noise.

He ran the fastest he could in that short distance and jumped. Asoke trusted him, so he immediately did the same. Lestan made to the other side and rolled on the floor. Asoke wasn't that lucky; he fell on his stomach and pulled up to his four. Lestan walked to him and reached his hand to him. Asoke was breathing heavily trying to stand up, but when he noticed the reaching hand he took it and let Lestan to help him up.

"Thanks-" Asoke started, when he suddenly noticed where he was.

There wasn't any earthquake anymore and the room was whole again. Like all of that what just never really happened. Was that an illusion? He was very confused at this moment.

"Are you all right?" Lestan suddenly startled him with the question bringing back from his thoughts.

Asoke probably looked very strange viewing the room trying to figure out what was happening.

"I... Was that an illusion?" He asked with shaking voice.

"It was at some point." The prince answered.

"What? It didn't really felt like illusion, I thought we could die." Asoke said concerned.

"Well, that illusion was real, I mean it would kill us, but it still wouldn't affect anything. It's called temporary space manipulation." Lestan explained.

"Like another dimension?" Asoke asked.

Lestan stared at him surprised for a moment and shook his head. "Yes, it was exactly that." Lestan answered and started walking to the door.

Asoke made a surprised sound and hid dagger on his belt behind him. "What do you mean by that? Was that sarcasm?" He asked confused and followed him.

"No," he shook his head, "it was exactly how you said it. We were in another dimension temporary created here as a security measure."

Asoke shook his head on the complicated statement he needed think through. What was most important though, was that he was right, so why Lestan shook his head? They left the room and were walking back through the stairs.

"So what was that? You looked like I said something stupid." Asoke complained.

Lestan stopped; Asoke went farther before stopping and turned around to look at him.

Lestan glanced at him and answered. "To be honest I was just surprised that you knew that word."

"What? Dimension?" Asoke asked surprised and Lestan nodded. "Do you think I don't know anything about the world?"

"Well, you did live on the street, it's not a great place to find books and receive any education." He answered calmly.

"Good point, but as you see I still managed to learn some things." Asoke chuckled.

"Congratulations, now can we proceed?" Lestan said sarcastically.

Asoke asked, "Where to now?"

"Quaerere Vizier." Lestan spoke.

A bolt of light appeared and flew leading to the target.

"So you want to catch the bad guy? Makes sense," Asoke smirked.

They ran after the bolt of light through set of stairs and corridor to reach another big chamber. Vizier was standing there; he looked like he was waiting for something.

"You're really boring Grand Vizier Irozo." Lestan stated.

"Ah, isn't it an honorable Prince Lestan and Master Thief Asoke, came to have a conversation with me. Enlighten me then why am I boring?" Irozo said with sounding voice.

"Your coup isn't working and you won't be able to open the Sands of Time how long we have those." Lestan explained.

"Do you really think I need those? I thought you read the book." Vizier giggled.

"How do you know-?" Lestan started and suddenly stopped when some kind of realization has been drawn on his face.

"I let you read it, it's...as you put it...less boring." Irozo chuckled.

"The dagger and the amulet are to open the sands and the staff to control them." Lestan exclaimed with terrified look on his face.

"Yes, go on." Irozo encouraged him.

"What? What are you talking about?" Asoke protested.

"He doesn't need either dagger or amulet to open the sands; he can just force them out with the staff, while the hourglass isn't completely locked now." He explained it to Asoke and then turned to Irozo again. "But for that you would need to unlock full power of that staff and that will take you a lot of time."

"Perhaps, but you won't have a chance to stop me." Vizier chuckled.

"Wrong old geezer, you're coming with us and we'll take that staff of yours." Asoke started to approach him.

Irozo started to wave his hand over the staff and Lestan came in front of Asoke." No, stay back," Lestan shouted.

"Harenae expugnatio," Vizier spoke and a sandstorm came from his staff.

"Arx tutela," Lestan yelled. Over him and the thief appeared a blue bubble of energy shielding them from the attack.

Wind was very strong though, so it pushed them far away when Asoke leaned against the floor and held Lestan in place. They were both struggling for some time to not be blown away from the room. The prince reached with his hands forward to try using a spell.

"Lumen tueor," Lestan shouted and the sandstorm vanished in a white flash.

Asoke hold Lestan for a moment making sure he wouldn't fall on the ground and walked from behind him. He wanted to face the older man, but he wasn't there anymore.

"Where is he?" The thief asked.

"He escaped." The prince answered.

"But how? This sandstorm was still going." Asoke questioned.

"He didn't need to stay here to maintain the spell. That happens when a grand vizier uses a powerful staff." He answered apologetically.

"That's insane, he's unstoppable." Asoke complained.

"No, he's not, we will stop him." Lestan stated.

"What? We? You are crazy if you think that I will go after him." Asoke protested.

"I can't do it alone; I need your help like in Desaria City. Please help me." Lestan pleaded.

"There's no way I could agree to that." Asoke replied.

"We've bonded with the artifacts, only we two can fight with the sand monsters." Lestan said.

"What monsters? Do you think that will make it even better?" Asoke groaned.

"People infected with the sands of time become the sands monsters, but with the amulet and the dagger we can fight them, only we can fight them. And they will protect us from the sands, so we won't turn into the monsters." The prince explained.

"That still doesn't convince me." The thief replied.

Lestan sighed. "Do I have to remind you that it's your fault that sands were released?"

"Don't give me that, I was tricked by that old geezer." Asoke replied.

"You stole the amulet and opened the hourglass; do you think you can get away with that?" Lestan questioned.

"This city is in chaos; I won't have any problem with running away from this cursed placed." Asoke explained and walked to exit.

"Whosoever will open the sands must die." Lestan stated with grim voice.

"What the hell was that?" Asoke asked terrified. For some reason those words reached him deep.

"A quote," Lestan answered.

"What quote?" Asoke questioned.

"A quote from book about the sands of time," Lestan explained.

"What does that even mean?" He asked nervously.

"That you're now cursed and die soon, unless the sands will be returned to the hourglass and it will be locked again." The prince explained.

Asoke gulped. "That's crazy, how even-"

"Listen, even if there wasn't any curse, you wouldn't survive. If Irozo opens the sands completely then whole world will be in danger." The prince explained.

Asoke stared at his blue deep eyes trying to figure out if the boy was serious. Usually thanks to his thievery senses he could tell if a person was trustworthy. Unfortunately it didn't work with this black haired boy. He sighed deeply thinking if he should agree to it.

"If it will make any difference, I can offer you the same what Vizier did; your origin." The prince offered.

"Do you even know that?" Asoke questioned.

"I have some idea." Lestan answered.

"So you don't?" Asoke questioned.

"I won't lie to you; I'm not certain, but I have a very strong lead on that." He explained.

"What lead?" Asoke asked curious.

"It wouldn't make sense if I told you now, right?" Lestan questioned.

"So you're just doing the same what vizier did?" Asoke remarked.

"No, I intend to keep my word and besides unlike Irozo, I'm not doing it for my own benefit." Lestan stated.

Asoke sighed heavenly; he really considered all arguments for this. On one side it was too dangerous to face a powerful magician and his defied magic army. On the other hand he liked that boy; he would do a right thing for once and could find out who he was. He always wanted to know that and felt that it was very important part of him. And if Lestan was right about the curse, it could save his own life. He was still scared of what it would happen to him or rather them if he agreed to that, but he made his choice.

"Okay, I'll help you." He said uncertainly.

"I'm glad." The prince responded with the vague smile.

*********************************************************

Jarred enter the medical room only to notice the strangest thing he ever witnessed. All men in the room were completely covert in sand, just like they were made from the sand. Immediately some of them faced him and stared with blank faces. Then they stood up and went for him. He took an arrow and started to shoot. Other soldiers came to the room only to be attacked by those creatures.

They fought with their swords and bows shooting arrows, but it didn't do much against them. Some of the soldiers were killed by sand men, so Jarred made the decision.

"Retreat," Jarred shouted.

All remaining soldiers and both kings ran for their lives.

*******************************************************

"What was that?" Asoke asked.

"That was a vision of sand monsters." Lestan explained.

"Do you know where they are?" Asoke asked.

"So you're not afraid of them anymore?" Black hair boy asked.

"Of course I am...still afraid, but I promised you my help, so lead the way." Blond replied.

"Quaerere Jarred." The prince spoke.

Like before light led them to their destination. In the throne room Soldiers along the kings were fighting with the sand monsters. Fighting was the wrong word here though. There were trying to defend themselves from these creatures with no means to defeat them. Lestan looked at Jarred who was lying on the floor and his father who was fencing with one of the monsters; the biggest one.

Unfortunately Araman's attacks didn't do any damage to the monster. The creature on the other hand had much bigger weapon and without a problem snatched away a weapon from the exhausted king. Monster now was about to slice Lestan's father in half. Was the prince too late to save him?