The horse continued to run through the desert, the sun gradually setting and turning the sky a brilliant shade of orange and purple. As night fell, Neato decided to stop and give his horse a rest. He dismounted and pulled out a canteen, offering the horse some water. The horse drank eagerly before lying down on the cool sand.
Neato sat beside the horse, feeling the warmth of its body against the chill of the desert night. He placed his head gently on the horse's side and gazed up at the starlit sky. "It's so beautiful," he murmured to himself. "It's really beautiful."
As he closed his eyes, a voice suddenly interrupted the serene moment. "It sure is."
Neato's eyes snapped open, and he quickly went for his sword. A woman stood in front of him, her presence both unexpected and unsettling. Neato pointed the sword at her. "Who are you?" he demanded.
The woman chuckled softly. "My name is Astran. It's a pleasure to meet you, Neato."
Neato's grip tightened on the sword. "How did you get here?"
Astran smiled, her eyes twinkling with a mysterious light. "I'm a witch, Neato."
"Witch?" Neato repeated, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
"Yes, I'm a witch," Astran confirmed.
Neato looked around the vast, empty desert. "How did you get here?"
Astran's smile widened. "I'm in your head, Neato."
Neato's thoughts raced. "In my head?" he thought.
"Yes, I'm in your head," Astran repeated calmly.
"Why are you in my head?" Neato asked, feeling a mix of confusion and suspicion.
Astran's smile turned gentle. "I'll tell you in the morning, but for now, sleep, Neato. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
Despite his wariness, Neato felt an unusual sense of calm wash over him. He slowly put his sword down, glancing once more at Astran before lying back down. The witch's presence was both comforting and unsettling, but exhaustion soon took over.
As Neato closed his eyes, the last thing he saw was Astran watching over him with an enigmatic smile. He drifted into sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges and mysteries.
END OF CHAPTER 30