Lestan looked at his father lying on the floor to be attacked by a sand monster. He didn't want to allow it, so he squeezed the amulet with his hand and rushed towards them. Suddenly he sped up so unexpectedly that he fell into the sand monster. It was in the last second to disturb its attack on the king and it crashed into the wall. The prince regained his balance and didn't fall into the floor.

Araman grabbed immediately his sword and Lestan touched its blade.

"Lumen verum," he spoke.

Blade of Araman's sword suddenly started to glow with pure white light. Then monster after recovering attacked the king again, but this time it scattered into sand grains after being hit by the sword. The sand itself started to vaporize in white, dim light.

Lestan looked at Jarred now; he was in the same situation. A sand monster was about to slice him when he lied on the floor. He was wounded and in no shape to fight or even to stand. Lestan dashed to him and jumped on monster kicking him with both legs and landing on his back. Then he quickly grabbed his sword, which was belted to Jarred's bag. Sand monster stood and was about to attack the prince, but he quickly slashed it swiftly pulling himself from the floor.

Monster growled and attempted another attack. Lestan didn't wait for it though and attacked first. This sand monster was much slower and weaker than the big one. The prince didn't have any problems to defeat it with two swings. Then he stabbed it and it turned to sand like the previous one, but this time it was drained into the blade and from it a white energy jumped into Lestan's amulet.

He looked quickly at Asoke who was avoiding attacks of one sand monster.

"Use your dagger on it, Asoke." Lestan shouted.

Asoke took the dagger from his belt and started to cut and stab the monster. After few blows he stabbed it and it was drained to the dagger. Then Lestan quickly took bow from Jarred, along with the quiver and threw it to Asoke. The thief caught them after hiding his dagger. He wore the quiver on his back and took an arrow from it.

He shot an arrow on a monster that was fighting with king Serry. Monster reacted and rushed at Asoke. Archer shot another arrow and monster seemed to be defeated, but still not destroyed. Asoke quickly ran to it and stabbed with the dagger.

Lestan rushed to another sand monster that seemed to be tired. He stabbed it and was sucked as energy through his blade into the amulet. Karasian soldier that was fighting with it thanked and saluted him. Lestan recognized him as one of personal guards of his father. Then the prince looked at the chamber to determine how many sand monsters there were. Fast glare allowed him to count over a dozen of them.

He wanted to fight them all at once instead to have to need to cut then one by one. He squeezed his amulet and willed with whole his might to draw their attention to him. All sand monsters suddenly turned to him and started going in his direction. He quickly rushed to the center of the chamber to face them there. Some sand monsters were attacked by others and defeated. Asoke swiftly rushed to them and one by one drained them to the dagger.

Most of them reached Lestan though and attacked him at the same time. The prince swiftly avoided them by rolling to his side. It would be really hard to defeat them like this. Some of them lost interest in the black haired boy and started to go in other soldiers' direction. He focused and slowed down the time. This way he will be able defeat them quickly and the rest should rest.

Lestan quickly started to cut one monster after another. They tried to fight back, but were to slow to do that. Lestan continued attacking until all of them fell to the ground. Now the time started to fly in normal pace. He quickly started to stab them in order to drain them into the amulet. Asoke quickly joined him and stabbed them with his dagger. After short moment they all were gone.

Nevertheless it still wasn't over. Something drew Lestan's attention and he turned around to witness some of the sands sprinkling back inside through the window. One of the Azurian soldiers was resting nearby by sitting on the small stairs. Sands quickly devoured him and the rest noticed it.

"Everyone step back; don't allow this sand to get close to you." King Serry shouted.

"Looks like it's too late for that one," Asoke remarked.

"Prepare to fight; this one will be much tougher." Lestan exclaimed.

When others stepped back to the chamber entrance, Lestan came closer to the sands. They formed a big human figure. Lestan prepared his sword to be ready for an attack. Sand monster attacked immediately jumping on him with big sword. The prince blocked the attack, but its strength was too much for him. He lost his balance and then monster hit him with his palm. Lestan lost consciousness.

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

Asoke watched Lestan to be thrown with great force and quickly jumped to catch him.

"Lestan, wake up." Blond boy shouted shaking him in his arms.

The prince didn't respond, so the thief took him quickly farther in the room and laid him under a column. Then he quickly ran to the other part of the room and prepared his bow. The monster seemed to notice him and started to go in his direction. Archer took an arrow and shot at him. Monster growled quietly, so it felt that,but not too much. Blond boy shot its head this time to have even less effect. He wondered if shooting in a proper part would have a better effect. So he shot few arrows in random places on the sand body to check it reactions.

Asoke seemed to be in luck this time, because shooting in its waist made it cry. He quickly shot more arrows at that place and monster screamed even louder. Monster didn't move at this moment and Asoke knew that he gained some time. He used that situation when monster couldn't move for a moment and rushed back to the swordsman picking up his sword on the way.

"Lestan, damn it, wake up, it's not time for sleeping." Asoke was shouting and shaking his shoulders.

The prince opened his eyes and looked at the thief confused.

"What happened?" He asked the blond boy.

"Well, that bastard hit you strong. Are you all right?" Asoke asked and immediately they attention took monster's screaming.

They looked at monster that was slowly approaching them.

"I will be, occupy him for a moment." Lestan replied.

"Okay, I'm on it." Asoke said and ran to the other part of the room. Not many arrows left in his quiver, but he didn't hesitate to use them. He started to shoot arrows at the monster's waist again. Monster screamed again and Asoke looked quickly at the prince. The black haired boy glowed for a moment and stood up holding his sword.

Asoke sighed with relief and watched Lestan dashing to the monster. Monster growled at him an immediately swung its sword. Lestan with unnatural speed avoided it and quickly jumped at monster slicing its sand skin. Monster cried and attacked again. Lestan being ridiculously fast again avoided it without any problem. Then he went for the back and sliced it too. Sand monster screamed like wild beast and stomped at the ground with so much power that it caused an earthquake.

Asoke fought to keep his balance and saw that Lestan hadn't done that and fell on the ground. Monster was about to cut him with the big sword, but then Asoke quickly started shooting his last arrows at it. Monster cried again and turned at the archer. The prince immediately jumped on his feet and quickly sliced its neck.

For a moment there wasn't any respond from the monster and then it started to act crazy. It dropped its sword and grabbed its head with both hands. It looked very unstable, like it was about to exploded. Asoke's first thought was to runaway, but Lestan shouted to him.

"Quick, stab it with your dagger." Lestan said and did the same with his own sword.

Asoke immediately hid the bow and took out the dagger. He jumped at the monster and stabbed it with his dagger holding it with his both hands. It was a good decision prompted by his intuition. Monster started to shake and he needed to lean both with his legs on the floor and hands on the dagger to keep his balance.

"Hold in there, Asoke." Lestan said.

Asoke was uncomfortable with that, but he trusted Lestan, so keep holding himself in a place. Monster shook even more and when Asoke thought it will explode; it just turned into sand and was drained by the dagger and amulet. Asoke heavily breathing fell on his knees. Lestan dropped himself on his butt, panting himself. They stared at it each other and Asoke smiled to him. The kings and their guards approached them.

Suddenly Asoke felt something strange and looked around. Lestan seemed to have the same sensation while he did the same. Portions of sand joined together and rose like a sea wave over them. Asoke widen his eyes while staring terrified on a wave of sand that was about to consume them.