Yellow sand filled the sky, and camel bells rang out.
The sunset's afterglow spilled like overturned golden dye, painting the boundless Begaritt Desert a magnificent orange-red.
Still, a hint of grayish yellow remained.
A vast sandstorm cast a heavy shadow at the edge of the horizon, like an ancient beast silently guarding this land.
Nestled in the Mountains, the weather-beaten ring-shaped town sent thin wisps of cooking smoke into the sky.
"We're... back again."
Cui Ciyou tugged on the reins. The camel beneath him obediently stopped and snorted twice.
He gazed at the distant outline, familiar yet somehow strange, and the nerves that had been taut for days finally relaxed for a moment.
On the wind, he could almost smell the town's distinctive blend of baked flatbread and spices.
Beside him, Roxy took off her hood, revealing long blue hair that stirred gently in the evening breeze.
Though her face showed a trace of weariness from the journey, her azure eyes were clear and bright.
This desert journey had yielded a great deal.
Not only had they successfully rescued Roxy, but they had also received the Hydra's gift: high-purity Magic Crystals.
The town's market was as bustling as ever.
Even with dusk approaching, cries from vendors and the sounds of bargaining rose one after another, brimming with life.
The air was filled with the charred fragrance of roast meat, the sweetness of fruit, and the exotic scents of all manner of unfamiliar spices.
"We should bring some gifts back for Alice, Sylphy, and the others."
Cui Ciyou spoke to Roxy as he surveyed the stalls on either side with interest.
A stall specializing in glass handicrafts caught his attention first.
An array of glassware covered the stall, refracting a rainbow of colors in the sunset.
There were crystal-clear wineglasses that