The night deepened, lanterns flickering one last time before the town slowly quieted. Lira and Renkai returned to their rooms, settling onto the stone beds with a quiet sense of satisfaction from the night's discoveries and dances. The glow of the market and the music lingered in their minds, but the desert sun would soon rise again, and their journey could not pause.
Rose came by their rooms before the first light of dawn, her face serious but calm. "I heard you talking earlier," she said quietly, leaning against the doorway. "About how to move forward. I agree—we'll need supplies before we push through the sandlands. The desert slows travel more than people expect, and the sun can be unforgiving."
