Chenli Star.
Its surface was covered in gravel, and it was named for its abundant production of chen sand.
This was an abandoned mining planet of the Galactic Alliance. After a century of extraction, most of its mineral resources had been exhausted, and the mining companies had all withdrawn.
Now, only one chen sand mine on the planet remained in operation. But because its output was so low, transport ships generally came only once every few months to haul away the minerals and deliver supplies.
Sandstorm Town sat upon a wasteland of brown gravel.
This was the last mining town. It had once prospered; at its peak, more than ten thousand miners had worked here. But now the mining areas had been abandoned, the miners had departed, and fewer than a hundred people lived in the shabby old mining town.
It was early spring here, yet only a thin layer of moss covered the wasteland, with no sign of life to be seen.
A gust of wind swept up dust and sand toward the town, sending the windmills atop the old brick-and-stone walls spinning madly with creaking squeals.
Within the town stood an ancient little courtyard.
The courtyard was not large, with only five rooms, a gatehouse, and a woodshed. The yard itself was level, paved with gravel.
A woman in green was practicing her punches in the courtyard.
Her movements were not fast, but every punch made the air tremble, producing dull explosive booms from time to time. Sweat slid down from her temples, yet she seemed unaware of it, immersed in her fist technique.
Even when the wind and sand blew in, she did not stop. A ring of force was clearly visible around her body, blocking out the dust and sand.
Beneath an ancient tree whose age