The toxic desert stretched out before them, a barren and deadly landscape that seemed endless. The sky above was bleak, as if it had never been touched by sunlight. The air smelled sharp, and every step they took left footprints in the black sand, which felt warm beneath their shoes.
"This is the most cheerful place we've ever visited," Alaric muttered sarcastically, brushing off the dust that constantly clung to his cloak. "I really regret not bringing an umbrella."
Zanuba glanced at Alaric, who remained casual despite the dangerous atmosphere around them. "An umbrella? What would that do here?"
"Oh, you know, just for style," Alaric replied with a wide grin. "Or maybe to shield us from acid rain, if it suddenly pours. Who knows?"
Zanuba rolled her eyes. "Focus, Alaric. This isn't the time for jokes."
"Of course," Alaric winked. "We're only walking through a desert that could kill us with one breath. Definitely no time for jokes, right?"
