The eastern deserts stretched out before them, an endless sea of golden sand dunes rippling under the relentless sun. The heat was oppressive, even in the early hours of the day, and the wind carried fine grains of sand that stung their skin and eyes. Elara, Elias, and Morgana rode in silence, their horses plodding steadily through the shifting sands. Every step felt like a struggle against the very earth beneath them.
The journey had been long and arduous, each day blurring into the next as they pressed onward. The landscape was harsh and unforgiving, with little shelter from the blazing sun. But they were driven by a single purpose—to find the Starfire Compass and, with it, the key to locating the Aetherblade.
Elias, riding beside Elara, squinted against the glare of the sun. "We've been riding for days, and there's still no sign of civilization. Are you sure this merchant prince existed?"
