The war dragged on relentlessly — sandstorms clashing with raging waves as the armies of Aqua and Sand collided again and again. For every attack Kairo launched, Dune had a counter.
It was a brutal, exhausting battle, and neither leader showed any sign of giving in.
But deep down, Kairo was growing impatient.
His water attacks, though devastating, weren't enough to overwhelm Dune. The older man was too experienced, too grounded in his tactics. The longer the fight went on, the more Kairo realized — there was no guarantee he could win. Victory was slipping further from his grasp with every passing moment.
He needed a way out.
His sharp mind churned through possibilities. Fighting Dune here was wasting precious time, time he could be using to conquer more of the Sand tribe's territory. His pride ached at the thought of retreat, but Kairo wasn't a fool — if he couldn't overpower Dune now, he'd build his strength first. He needed more land, more control. Only then would he face Dune again.
A ruthless plan formed in his mind.
Raising his trident, Kairo gathered an immense amount of water, swirling it into a spiraling vortex. The air grew heavy with moisture, the ground trembling as the sheer force of the water threatened to drown the battlefield. His soldiers and Dune's warriors alike faltered, momentarily stunned by the massive surge.
With a cold, determined grin, Kairo roared, "Let me show you what true power looks like!"
He unleashed the full force of his attack — a devastating wave meant to drown the land entirely. Water surged forward like a collapsing ocean, swallowing everything in its path.
Dune, ever composed, reacted swiftly. Sand rose in a towering wall, hardening like stone to absorb the impact. The collision of water and sand created a massive cloud of steam and mud, blinding everyone in the area.
And that was Kairo's moment.
As the battlefield erupted in chaos, Kairo slipped away — vanishing into the storm of steam, moving swiftly and silently through the confusion. His trident now tucked away, he focused on one goal: escaping without anyone noticing.
By the time the steam cleared, Dune lowered his sand barrier, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. But Kairo was gone.
One of his warriors rushed to him. "My lord, Prince Kairo... he's disappeared!"
Dune's face remained calm, but a faint sigh of disappointment escaped his lips. "He's abandoned the battle."
The Sand tribe leader turned to the Aqua soldiers still fighting fiercely, despite their prince's desertion. "Your leader has fled," Dune declared firmly, his voice echoing across the war-torn land. "There's no meaning in this battle anymore. Retreat before you lose your lives."
But the Aqua soldiers didn't waver. Their loyalty to Kairo was absolute. "We fight for our prince!" one of them shouted. "With or without him, we'll battle to the death!"
Dune's heart weighed heavy. Despite Kairo's selfishness, his soldiers remained devoted. It was a tragic loyalty — one he knew would only lead to more bloodshed.
Yet, there was nothing more he could say. The battle would rage on without its leader.
Meanwhile...
Kairo, now far from the battlefield, trudged through the scorching desert. His once-mighty presence was now hidden beneath a tattered hooded cloak, the fabric whipping against his body in the hot wind.
His trident was strapped to his back, the only indication of his true identity.
Every step sank into the sand, but he pushed forward, his mind already strategizing.
Conquering Dune now was impossible, he admitted to himself. But if I expand my control first... if I take their land, one district at a time... then I'll return.
His pride wasn't broken, it was simply simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As the sun blazed overhead, Kairo's gaze locked onto the distant outlines of the Sand tribe's districts — isolated, vulnerable patches of land.
His lips curled into a confident smirk beneath his hood.
This was only the beginning.
_ _ _
Kairo trudged farther and farther into the heart of the Sand tribe's territory, the harsh desert wind biting at his hooded cloak. His steps were light yet purposeful — he knew causing chaos right away would only backfire. If he drowned the village in water now, the sand-users would retaliate, using their elemental powers to stall him and they'd alert Dune. So, his escape would be useless. No, he needed to be smart. Precise.
So, he chose patience.
The village he found was surprisingly peaceful — children playing with sand sculptures, merchants trading clay pots, and farmers working with the dry soil. Laughter and conversation filled the air, a stark contrast to the battle he had just escaped.
But Kairo didn't care about their peace.
As he moved unnoticed among the people, his sharp gaze caught something darker beneath the surface. This tribe was bound by strict traditions — conservative, almost suffocating.
He learned quickly that the Sand tribe had rigid expectations: men were required to marry by the age of 25, and women by 20. It wasn't just a cultural norm — it was an unspoken rule. Those who failed to meet these expectations were shamed, outcast, or worse.
Kairo's disgust deepened.
He heard whispers about certain families disowning their children for breaking these traditions. The once-idyllic village now seemed like a prison — its people shackled by their own customs.
His anger simmered. These people don't deserve their land, he thought, his fingers twitching, already imagining the water he'd summon to wash away their oppressive ways. I was right to conquer this place.
But then — he saw her.
A small group of villagers had gathered around a woman, their voices sharp, their words cutting deeper than any weapon.
"Useless at 25," one sneered.
"Can't even find a husband," another spat.
"No man will ever want you now," a third said, kicking dust at her.
The woman — frail and blind — simply took the abuse in silence, her head lowered, her thin frame shaking.
Kairo felt something snap.
Without a word, he charged forward and struck one of the men with a swift, brutal punch. The villager hit the ground with a grunt.
The others staggered back in shock, but Kairo didn't stop — he knocked another aside, his jaw clenched with fury.
The remaining villagers scattered, fear lighting their faces as they realized this stranger wasn't to be trifled with.
The blind woman, still trembling, reached out for balance.
Kairo instinctively caught her arm, steadying her.
Her fingers clung to his arm like it was the only anchor she had left in the world.
"Are you..." she whispered softly, "the man who is destined to guide me... show me the light?"
Kairo's heart lurched at her words. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
This wasn't the reaction he expected — there was no fear, no anger, just a heartbreaking hope.
Kairo instinctively caught her arm, steadying her.
Her fingers clung to his arm like it was the only anchor she had left in the world.
"Are you..." she whispered softly, "the man who is destined to guide me... show me the light?"
Kairo's heart lurched at her words. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
This wasn't the reaction he expected — there was no fear, no anger, just a heartbreaking hope.