The Great Tagor Desert.
The vast sea of sand glittered in the morning light, its rolling dunes like frozen waves stretching to the horizon.
A dry, hot wind struck Qin Han's face, carrying the rough touch of sand.
"This is Mocheng."
Hai Bodong landed beside him and pointed to a city below, bathed in the morning light. "The largest city on the edge of the Tagor Desert."
He paused, his gaze settling on the golden sea of sand. A complicated note entered his voice.
"This is where Queen Medusa placed her seal on me all those years ago."
A trace of lingering fear crossed Hai Bodong's face, as though he had recalled something unpleasant.
Then he shook his head and gave a wry laugh. "It was also here that I spent years working out how to break the seal. That woman... she showed no mercy."
"Come on. The map's in the city."
The two of them descended into Mocheng.
The streets were already busy that morning. People set up stalls, hurried on their way, and called out their wares. Unlike the imperial capital, the city showed no sign of having barely survived a great battle.
After all, it lay far out on Jiama's frontier. News of the battle in the imperial capital had not even reached it until three or four days later.
Hai Bodong led Qin Han through several alleys and stopped before a rundown shop.
Windblown sand had worn away nearly all the lettering on the sign above the door. Only a few faint grooves remained, though Qin Han could just make out the words "Ancient Map."
The door was weathered, its cracks packed with dried sand.
Hai Bodong stepped forward and pressed a hand against it.
A faint pulse of energy flickered—the seal he had left there