Outside the ruined temple, bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, a tense silence hung heavy in the air.
Alex, his body still slick with sweat and grime from the battle, sat beside the couple with the Desert Horse tethered nearby. A small campfire crackled cheerfully, casting flickering shadows on their faces.
"So..." Alex began, his voice raspy from exertion, "you said you were lost?"
The husband, his throat dry with fear, managed a shaky nod. "Y-Yeah, We've been wandering for… I don't know, maybe a day?"
The wife, seemingly calmer than her husband, reached up and removed her hood, revealing a cascade of fiery red hair.
So, it really was them.
A jolt of recognition shot through Alex.
He casually brushed this realization aside, focusing on their current situation. "Where are you headed?" he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"We're from Elerea Village, A small village, you probably wouldn't know it."
