The next morning, a slight chill hung in the air.
Sam sat beside Stone.
His eyes were now full of hope.
He knew that restoring the oasis they had once had would take more than water, soil, and seeds. It would also take faith and perseverance.
He believed the people they had lost would return.
He took a deep breath of cold air and began explaining his plan to Stone in detail.
"First, we need water," Sam said.
"I know of an ancient spring in the eastern desert, but a band of cunning Sand Pirates controls it."
"We have to be careful. We can't let them discover what we're planning."
"I suspect those bandits are controlled by the dynasty outside the desert. They're the very bastards who destroyed our camp!"
Stone listened quietly. He could sense Sam's determination, along with a trace of anger and worry in his heart.
Was Sam worried that, once they revived the oasis, those damned bandits would come and destroy it again?
Stone vibrated his surface, producing a low sound, as though telling Sam that, no matter how many difficulties lay ahead, he would stay by his side.
He had already matured rapidly.
He now understood the truth: he had underestimated the malice in people's hearts and the schemes of others.
They had drugged the wine taken as spoils.
Sam nodded and continued, "Next is the soil. We need fertile soil to plant the seeds."
"The desert soil is too barren. We need to find a way to improve it."
Stone began slowly releasing the energy within him into the surrounding sand.
He could feel the sand beginning to change. The change was tiny, but it was a start.
Sam noticed, and his eyes lit up.
"You're doing very well," he said. "I believe your