As night deepened, the faint sound of insects chirping came from the valley outside.
Bakins, bored, carved at the stone in his hand, lifted his head, and saw the merchant at the entrance of the crevice, leaning against a rock, arms crossed, staring blankly at the valley outside.
The night in Istania was quiet, cold, and enveloped in a layer of mystery. That was the night over the Sand Sea, with the silver moon hanging in the night sky, the crescent moon like a hook, and the moonlight reflecting dimly on a withered, forked tree on the ridge.
As desolate as this place.
On the ridgeline, the sky was vast like the sea with stars—the sailor looked up and saw the Boatman Constellation, Sea Beast Constellation, Mermaid Constellation, and even the Siren Constellation. In this high and wide place, it seemed that one could see more clearly the crystal-like sky dome.
