The estate's towering walls shrank in the distance, swallowed by the horizon as Kyle and his party pressed onward.
The lush greenery of the cultivated lands soon gave way to arid plains, and from there, to the endless expanse of pale, shifting sand.
The air shimmered in the heat, waves of distortion making the desert seem alive and treacherous.
"From here on, keep a steady flow of mana around your body. If you don't, you'll bake under this sun before you even realize it."
Kyle said, his voice carrying easily despite the oppressive dryness.
Melissa adjusted her scarf, nodding, while Amana gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment. Silvy, ever confident in her ability to navigate harsh terrain, smirked faintly.
"Just follow me. I've crossed harsher deserts than this."
She led the way, her steps deliberate, tracing an invisible path through the dunes.
The wind hissed against them, carrying fine grains of sand that clung to clothes and stung exposed skin.
