Desert : $b A legend

Malchus, the restless son of a prominent Alexandrian family, steps out into a blistering noon street that seems emptied of all life. Leaving behind the comforts and obligations of his home, he feels the weight of his past fall away like a discarded cloak, yet the ghosts of his mother and a haunting love linger, tugging at his heart. With only a staff and a shadow that follows him like a silent reminder, he slips away toward the vineyards that fringe Lake Mareotis, hoping to catch a fleeting encounter with a mysterious hermit who appeared only hours before.

The heat of the city gives way to cooler, shaded paths among grape‑laden trellises, where the distant glitter of water promises both refuge and revelation. Reaching a quiet wharf, Malchus discovers a lone vessel preparing to set sail, its crew moving slowly in the still air. As he inquires about departure, the scene freezes in a moment of anticipation, leaving his next steps—and the secrets he seeks—suspended on the calm surface of the lake.