Jesgil watched with flickering eyes as Vinsue, Sidra, and Asha took off to examine what they had found, working her hardest to keep awake, once again, leaving Jesgil and Nofre-ari together with Gale. At least this time, they would not be interrupted by the sudden forces on ink soldiers. "I'm… sorry…" she muttered to Gale as she fought the losing battle to keep awake. "I… am… holding… you… ba–" Her words were unfinished as exhaustion finally took its final toll on her as her head drooped forward and her body became limp.

Nofre-Ari looked away from Jesgil and towards Gale after she had fallen under. "What do you plan to do now? Do you simply wish to stay here by her side as the rest of them seek out the glory of adventure and mystery?"

As Jesgil finally was able to rest in peace, the sphinx asked the dream-walker of what she would do. Watching the half-blooded dragon drift off to sleep, she looked back at Nofre-ari. "Yes, that is what I wish to do. The glory of adventure and mystery matter not. Rather, it is the bonds between companions which are more precious. Silver and gold are plenty, but the company of good friends is rarer still." Glancing at the passage which the three who had left had entered, she continued. "There will be plenty more times in the days ahead to experience adventures. One must know when to rest when they have the opportunity."

In the chamber far into the pyramid, both the phoenix and sphinx watched as the dragon sought the direction of the treasure she was looking for. Back when they led Vinsue to the sealed door, the dragon had asked Sidra why she was angry with her. The sphinx didn't answer, or rather decided she did not deserve one. She was not angry, rather merely annoyed. And if the dragon could not tell the difference, then there was no reason for Sidra to expect her to understand anything else. Asha was more forgiving, but had no means to assist with whatever Vinsue needed. Both were at a distance from where Vinsue was now, the sphinx growing bored by the minute. Stretching herself out, Sidra began to inspect her claws. She would let the dragon claim her treasure, then leave with the human girl. Her only interests were vested in Gale, and their safety. 

Of course the lion would not answer but she did not care. Here eyes blinked and stopped glowing as she looked at the others a frown on her face. 

"Its a trap and i have a filling you knew that." She was looking at the sphinx. Sidra should be able to read the walls and at this point Vinsue would not put that past her. "It is eassy to get in. Just press the button on the wall. The one on the far right." They could take her at her word or not she did not care. She simply turned and started walking back to the others. The human and half blood was way better company than the sphinx and they were closer to where she needed to be. 

The call connection with whatever treasure awaited was starting to time out per say and would only start hurting her more. The longer the whait the worce the pain, the worce the pain the more determined she would be and the more snappy she would become. She did not mean to be that way and did not want to be that way to the others but untell the treasure was in her hand the call would not stop.

The sphinx nodded in agreement with Gale, acknowledging her mindset. "Sidra is lucky to have you as her guide," Nofre-ari commented before looking up in the air. Her tail turned still quickly, as things did not feel right… the air… it was was not still… heavy twisted… something was not right. "I need a favor from you, Madam Gale," the sphinx declared, urgency in her voice to make No not an option. "Help get Lady Jesgil on my back. She is too drained to get up and do it herself. Be sure to summon your companions with that dragon as well. Time is–"

A quake rumbled through the temple as the walls started to melt and twist. "Like it or not, we are in a magically-forged temple. One that has grown unstable and is collapsing! If anyone is still inside when the last open to the outside world closes, they will be trapped here until the next time it is summoned, which can be an eternity. A fate I do not wish upon anyone, as it is worse than death itself. Now, hurry and get her on me. You are free to ride as well."

All that mattered now was how fast the beings inside could react as well as if those daring enough would challenge any treasure at that risk.

The shaking started, but somehow it felt like it was more than a tremor. Something, Gale wasn't sure what, was getting distorted. As Jesgil still lay unconscious, Nofre-ari spoke: "I need a favor from you, Madam Gale. Help get Lady Jesgil on my back. She is too drained to get up and do it herself. Be sure to summon your companions with that dragon as well. Time is–" The shaking intensified, and the walls were cracking in all directions. Even the ground was giving way! Just as the sphinx exclaimed, this place was built by magic and when that magic was no longer present–it would fall in on itself. There was no time to lose.

Gale grabbed Jesgil and pulled with all her might to bring her to the sphinx, and pushed the half-blood dragon onto Nofre-ari's back. Taking her sash, she tied the woman by the waist to the sphinx the best she could, hoping it would help keep her from falling off. The others were too far from them, she wouldn't be able to send Bahadur to warn them in time. "Please, hurry out with Jesgil! I will try to warn the others!" Running, she hoped that she would be able to make it in time. 

Back at the sealed chamber, Sidra rolled her eyes when the dragon accused her of intentionally leading them to a trap. How was she supposed to know what was behind that door? Did she look like she could see through walls? Typical dragon, prioritizing themselves and their greed. Then, the walls and floor began to quake violently. "What? What's going on?!" The walls were crumbling, and she didn't need a second glance to know they had to run. "The pyramid is collapsing! …Gale!" Very rarely did she ever refer to the girl by her name, but for once the sphinx was afraid. She ran back down the hall they had come from, and the phoenix followed too. People always spoke about how animals had a natural sense when it came to disasters. Whether or not such rumors were true, the place was falling apart.

"Sidra! Asha! Can you hear me?" Gale shouted as she tried to find where they had gone. All she knew was that they took a specific passage, but how far were they? She was about to turn back when she heard the sphinx's voice and they nearly collided. "We can save our heartfelt reunion for later, we need to run!" Sidra chastised before slinging the girl over onto her back. They dashed through the disintegrating sandstone passages as rubble was falling all around them. "I see daylight! The entrance–over there!" The phoenix cried.

Vinsue almost fell agenst the wall when the ground shook. Aqua whimpered at the sudden change in vinsues walk. "Aqua its ok we'll get out. We will be ok." They had to get to the others and they had to get out. She sat into a run only stopping when she saw the group. When she turned to help get them out she almost screamed with the pain. She stopped and held her head fully knowing why. "Aqua go with them and help them out." She said aqua made a series of sounds. "I will make it out when you do. Now we do not have time go." Aqua jumped off her shoulder and looked at her before joining the others.

Vinsue did not stay or say anything ealce before braking into a run up the stairs and through the maze of coffins. Many of them oppen and there contents slinged out but unmoving. At the end was a room with one well decorated coffin. In it was a necklace that resembled the beetles that bit her when they intered. That was what called her. She quickly pulled it off and placed it into her bag. On the wall were charms like jackals with a small jim in there necks. She grabbed them, than turned. She again started running more or less jumping from one top to another. Again the ground shook making her fall. She got up and again started moving but one of the dead had her on the foot.

Nofre-ari was the first to escape the pyramid, her running and bumping causing Jesgil to stir into a drowsy state as Nofre stood a good distance away. "Huh…?" she muttered, looking up to see the stone structure falling into itself as four other figures made a move towards the exit. "Tharn?" She questioned as she looked down. "W-what is happening?" The sphinx explained to her what started to happen as the pyramid fell into itself, and by that time, they were joined by the four that were seen earlier: Gale, Sidra, Asha, and… Aqua… "Wait… where is Vinsue?" She muttered, just to be answered with a sigh.

"That fool," Nofre-ari muttered. "She best not be letting that draconian greed get the best of her! We don't even know of Lady Dalanesca would be able to get her out after the place has collapsed."

"What?" Jesgil stated, working her way off the sphinx, though it was more her unceremoniously landing roughly on the sand, struggling to get her legs up. "We— we have to help… her…" she muttered, trying to push herself back to her feet.

"That, I cannot allow!" Was barked at her with force. "If we cannot get out ourselves, what makes you think we can get in to get her out?! Especially in your shape… The doorway will only be open for a couple more minutes. The only way you can get to him is to be able to use Gate Magic, which only works when you know you will not be going into the middle of a wall." While the truth hurt her, she had to accept it as she slid back down into the sand.

Bursting forth from the crumbling entrance, the dream-walker and her two companions were out of breath. Collapsing to her knees, Sidra was breathing heavily as they slumped together into a pile. The shaking was still on-going, but now they could see the scale of its destruction. What had seemed an impenetrable, indestructible structure was falling apart like the sands it had risen from. Sliding off the sphinx's back, Gale looked in awe as the sandstone structure was caving in level by level. The greenish tint of the skies was fading, and the overcast gloominess made way for the sun. The ruby's light waned, then extinguished. Mummies which would have swarmed them started disintegrating to dust. All of Aysut, not just the pyramid was vanishing before their eyes.

The horrors of a dead city were leaving this world. The three watched in silence. As quickly it had arisen, so did it leave. Aysut would be no more, the lich's attempts a failure. The massive energy from the enchanted construction was being released and dispersed in every direction; something anyone could sense. Relief washed over them all, and Gale hugged them both. "We've made it out…we're alive." But then she realized someone was missing. "Where is Vinsue? Sidra wasn't she with you?" Gale asked. The sphinx's face went stiff and hackles rose. "…She was consumed by her own foolish greed. I told her it was collapsing, but like a typical dragon she couldn't leave her precious baubles be." Asha confirmed it. "Yes, that is the truth. Sidra became worried when the ground began to crack beneath us, and immediately went to find you. She was afraid that you would be hurt. Fortunately we were reunited before the sands ran out of the hourglass." 

Looking back at the shrinking structure, Gale struggled internally. She wanted to go back and save her, but how could she? Perhaps the gods could pull her out, they were able of doing such a thing–right? That was the little light of hope she held within her heart. If the gods were watching over them, then surely they knew when they were in need. But if she was not able to be saved…then the most the girl could do was offer up a prayer that the stars in the skies would light her way to the celestial realm. 

Vinsue was quick to cut the hand and again start running. Her heart was pounding as the walls started to turn to sand. she knew she did not have the time to get out but that was not what concerned her. She fully hoped that either the gods could help her out or that her child would start to cry for her and in turn summon her out. She just hoped the others made it but could never be too sure. Approaching were the stairs were she stopped. They had been blocked by the collapsing temple. She was officially trapped and slowly started to panic. She ran from wall to wall but like before had found no way out.

Aqua sat and watched as the opening caved in and the pyramid started to turn to sand. She watched for her mom to come out like she said. "I will make it out when you do," she said just like Vinsue. she started walking back and forth as she noticed the others start to talk of her mother and greed. The pets seemed not to care which upset her more. She laid down and started to cry without more than a sharp inhale every few seconds. Her tears and worry turned to anger directed towards Sidra. "You not know that, you not dragon. She hurt so she fixed pain" she said angerly. She then turned and sat down as she again watched the pyramid. 

Inside Vinsue shifted forms to her full-sized self. She started running at the walls at full speed. As one started to slowly give way she backed up and repeated untell the wall fell she jumped and spread her wings taking flight to the outside world. She landed not far away and collapsed. She had used all her energy and strength to get out. She closed her eyes ready to sleep.

In Nofre-Ari's eyes, Vinsue was a lucky woman, breaking through the walls before they became too unstable, creating the barrier between the realms. She pushed her luck too close for comfort for what could only had been mere trinkets, considering none of what she had were visible on her person. To Jesgil, though, all she could do was sigh in relief to see everyone made it out safe.

"I do not think now would be the time to sleep," Nofre brought up as Vinsue laid her dragon head down. "After all, undead or not, the desert can be a harsh environment, easy to take the lives away from those not careful. It would be sad to see a life pass away from such a trivial matter." Nofre-ari's body began to glow along with the artifact that summoned her, stating her time was nearly up. "For now, we should seek out a town and recover. Many of you have become drained from such harsh conditions." She even turned to Jesgil specifically, stating, "Take a vacation. A good week to yourself to relax and not worry about others. It shall do you good," before completely vanishing, a loud, snapping lock echoing from Jesgil's pocket as the sphinx puzzle reset itself.

While she could like to ride Nofre to a safe haven, she knew they would have a march before them. Using her axe to pull herself up, Jesgil asked them, "So then, are we ready to go?"