Chapter 1: Awakening

The eerie silence of the desert had lingered since last night, interrupted only by the occasional whispers of the wind. Leonidas and Cassian, exhausted from their four-day journey from the village, lay beneath the infinite stars.

A low, rumbling vibration, like the murmur of a sleeping beast, shook the ground beneath them. Leonidas's eyes flickered open, heart racing. He sprang to his feet, scanning the surroundings with apprehension. Cassian also rose, fixing his gaze on the distant silhouette of the volcano.

"What's happening?" Cassian's voice was laced with unease.

Leonidas watched the seemingly awakened volcano with a sense of foreboding. "It doesn't look good," he muttered.

As dawn's light began to paint the desert, the scene before them appeared even more ominous. The once tranquil volcano was now brimming with anger, spewing forth a thick cloud of gray smoke that covered the sky.