Sakura spent the rest of the day trying to convince herself she wasn't leaving tomorrow.
Unfortunately, every time she thought about waiting longer, she found herself looking at the map.
The Northern Expanse.
The desert stretched across nearly the entire upper half of the continent.
Seeing it on paper somehow made the journey feel even more intimidating.
It was enormous.
Haruto could be anywhere.
Assuming he was even there.
Assuming he was alive.
Assuming the clues actually meant something.
There were far too many assumptions.
Yet despite all of them—
she couldn't stop thinking about the possibility.
By evening, she had reached a conclusion.
She hated Rowan.
Not because he had done anything wrong.
But because he had been right.
Again.
The following morning, Sakura found herself standing in one of Aurelis's marketplaces.
Preparing to leave.
Exactly as Rowan had predicted.
She hated that too.
The capital was already awake.
Merchants shouted from their stalls.
Customers filled the streets.
Carriages rolled past carrying goods from every corner of Asterra.
The city felt alive.
Busy.
Loud.
And expensive.
Very expensive.
Sakura quickly discovered that supplies for crossing a desert were not cheap.
Especially when purchased in the largest city on the continent.
A merchant cheerfully informed her of this fact.
Several times.
Sakura left before she committed a crime.
After gathering what she could afford, she returned to the Grand Archives.
Her room was a mess.
Maps covered the bed.
Notes covered the desk.
Equipment covered everything else.
She was in the middle of reorganizing her bag when a knock came from the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Rowan entered carrying a stack of rolled maps.
Of course he was carrying maps.
Sakura was no longer surprised.
"I brought gifts."
"You say that like it's exciting."
"It is exciting."
The cartographer placed the maps on the desk.
Then proudly unfolded one.
Sakura immediately recognized it.
The Northern Expanse.
Again.
She looked at him.
Then at the map.
Then back at him.
"...another one?"
"This one is better."
"You already gave me one."
"That one was accurate."
Sakura blinked.
"And this one?"
Rowan grinned.
"This one is useful."
That was not reassuring.
He spread the map across the table.
Unlike the official version, this one was covered in notes.
Observations.
Warnings.
Sketches.
Routes.
Comments written in several different colors.
One corner simply read:
**DON'T GO HERE.**
There was absolutely no explanation attached.
Sakura pointed at it.
"Why shouldn't I go there?"
"I forgot."
"..."
"..."
"That's somehow worse."
"I know."
Rowan sounded genuinely upset about it.
The conversation ended when another knock sounded at the door.
This time, the Archivist entered.
The room immediately became quieter.
Not because anyone told it to.
It simply happened.
The silver-haired woman glanced at the maps.
Then at Sakura's supplies.
Then nodded.