As they left the palace, the desert air was thick with secrets, whispering tales of ancient battles and long-forgotten magic. The streets of the Desert Kingdom were a tapestry of life, where the vibrant colors of the market stalls contrasted with the stark beauty of the surrounding dunes. They walked in silence, their thoughts swirling like the sands beneath their feet.
Suddenly, amidst the bustle, Revy and Bibi found themselves separated from Elir and the little mist dragon. They took the opportunity to explore the city on their own, their footsteps echoing down narrow, winding streets lined with exotic structures that seemed to have been plucked from a desert mirage. The buildings were made of sand-colored stone, carved with intricate patterns that whispered of the desert's secrets.
"Bibi," Revy said, his voice cutting through the din of the marketplace, "tell me about your family, your parents. And why was Lili with Aria?"
Bibi's eyes grew distant, a flicker of sadness crossing her features. "Our family," she began, her voice soft as desert silk, "we were from the Shadow Kingdom, a place where the line between life and death is as thin as a blade's edge." She paused, her gaze drifting to the horizon. "There's a forbidden cycle of reincarnation there," she continued, her words a solemn confession. "When one twin dies, the other lives. That's how I came back."
Revy's brow furrowed in confusion. "But what about Lili? How did she come back?"
Bibi's expression grew troubled, and she hesitated before speaking. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of fear. "But it has something to do with Aria. The cycle shouldn't work that way."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Lizzy, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to a nearby alley.
"It's a dragon egg auction! Come on, we must check it out!"
The team followed her, their curiosity piqued. As they approached the dimly lit alley, the air grew thick with the scent of incense and the murmur of hushed voices. The shadowy figures within were cloaked in mystery, their intentions as veiled as the origins of the dragon eggs displayed on velvet pillows.
The auctioneer, a sly-looking man with a greasy smile, called for bids in a sing-song voice that seemed to dance on the edge of reality. Each egg pulsed with a power that was palpable, a promise of a creature that could change the very fabric of the world.