It had been a week since Ardiel and Reno left the camp in the Dark Forest, and they still had three cities left to pass before reaching the capital.
All around them was an endless sea of sand, stretching far into the horizon, with the relentless heat of the blue sun beating down on them.
"I think I'm about to melt into this desert," Reno grumbled, dragging his feet through the sand, irritated by the grains creeping into his shoes with every step.
"Quit whining," Ardiel said, his tone calm but amused. "This is my first time traveling the Empire. I'm trying to enjoy it while I can."
Ahead of them, the sand-bricked walls of Nafisa Oasis loomed.
It was one of the three famed paradises within the Ashar Dunes, a vast golden desert to the south.
The other two were Zahran and Qamar, but Nafisa stood out, its lush greenery and sparkling waters calling travelers like a distant mirage.
Reno shot him a sideways glance.
