They looked around, trying to figure out the clapping's source as it grew closer and closer to them.
Ali Baba instinctively pulled Zarqa behind him, squeezing her between his back and the cliff wall. That way, no danger would get to her before bypassing him.
" Congratulations, you finally did it," a voice spoke from behind the wall of sand as the outline of a figure loomed on its other side. " You managed to get rid of each and every obstacle I've placed in your way so far. How astonishing."
Someone stepped through the sheet of red particles as the walls of wind backed away again. A long side braid fluttered with the breeze, a red cloak billowed dramatically behind them, and a broad smirk stretched across their rather pale face.
A dark brown and dull eye peeked down at them from underneath the red hood as the person gave one last applause. "You've fought well, to the very end."
