The first pale light of dawn spread across the desert, painting the sand in soft oranges and pinks.
Xiao Zhi found herself resting her head on Ruhan's shoulder, and he, somehow, had leaned against her. She was surprised, but strangely not frightened. She shifted slightly, and Ruhan stirred.
"You're awake," he said, his voice gentle as he searched her face for any discomfort. "Are you feeling okay? Cold?"
Xiao Zhi shook her head. "I'm… okay. Thank you."
Ruhan slowly stood and stretched. No trace of awkwardness despite how close they'd been. "The morning has come. We should continue while the air is still cool. When the sun climbs higher, it will be unbearable."
He glanced toward Duran, who was already prepared to move. Then he turned back to Xiao Zhi, offering his hand. She took it without hesitation, letting him help her to her feet.
"With horses, we could have reached the Tughril border in a day or so," Ruhan said, lifting the pouch of water he had managed to rescue, "but on foot… it could take twice as long."
Xiao Zhi's stomach twisted at the news. Ruhan continued, "This is the only water we have. We'll need to save it as much as we can. A sip every few hours, no more. We'll have to survive three days like this."
She swallowed hard, but she knew they had no choice. They were lucky enough that Ruhan had managed to snatch the pouch even with limited water.
"Once we get closer to the border," Duran said, offering a hint of hope, "we might find Tughril patrols. If we're lucky, we could run into them."
"For now, we move," Ruhan said simply, gesturing for Xiao Zhi to follow.
The desert stretched endlessly, a sea of sand beneath a sun determined to roast them alive. No horses, no carriage, no supplies. The bandits had taken everything.
By midday, the sun had reached its cruelest point. Ruhan was right, the heat was merciless. They had been walking for hours and had only taken a few sips of water. Xiao Zhi stumbled, gripping the hem of Ruhan's cloak for support. Her arms felt like lead, her legs nothing more than trembling sticks. Every step was a fighty. Every breath burned her throat.
"This… this is impossible," she whispered, her lips cracked and dry. "How… how can anyone survive this?"
Ruhan looked back, calm as ever. "We will survive. Trust me."
"But we barely have water," she cried, feeling more desperate. "We have three more days like this, how could we possibly-"
"You keep walking," Ruhan interrupted, placing a hand lightly on her back. "I don't need to explain everything. Just trust me."
She stumbled again. "We have to save energy, and your talking is not going to do you any favor," he added lightly, a rare hint of humor in his voice.
She glared at him, frustrated, but deep down she knew he was right.
Duran led the way without a word, his steps steady and sure. The bandit attack had clearly taken a toll on him, yet he showed no sign of weakness. Xiao Zhi wondered if she was the only one who felt like she was about to collapse. She knew that Duran and Ruhan were nothing more than mere characters in Lin Ruan's Story. An NPC, if you must call it. No wonder they didn't seem to feel exhaustion or despair like Xia Zhi did. They were basically robots, not alive.
Hours dragged on. The sun only grew harsher.
Her throat burned, and the few drops of water she'd sipped earlier only made it worse.
"I… I can't," she panted, her voice barely a whisper. "I can't go on…" Her hand slipped from Ruhan's cloak.
Ruhan caught her arm, steadying her. His expression didn't waver. "Yes, you can," he said, voice low but firm. "One step. Then another. Don't look at the distance, only the next step."
"I need water!" she panted. "I can't… I can't go on anymore!" It hurt to even talk. Every word that came out of her mouth made her throat burn.
Ruhan sighed but unhooked the pouch, letting her take a small sip. She closed her eyes, savoring the brief relief. Before she could drink more, he pulled it back.
"Don't be greedy, princess," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Still, seeing her face pale with exhaustion made something twist inside his chest.
They walked further for several more hours, unable to find any shelter under the cruel sun. Dragging her feet, Xiao Zhi forced herself onward. At last, night fell over the desert. The heat's torture was gone, but now the chill bit into her skin. Still, she felt a flicker of relief. The cool air had helped her breathe again, and her steps had become a little less heavy.
After a while, they finally found a small ridge, offering just enough shelter from the wind. The breeze that had once felt refreshing now had become a cruel, chilling wind. They sat to rest. Ruhan immediately draped his cloak over her, holding her close. She froze, flustered by the closeness. "I… I can manage," she muttered weakly.
"No," he said softly. "Not tonight. You'll freeze otherwise."
She sighed and surrendered. For the first time in hours, she allowed herself to rest against him. Last night, he was simply sitting close to her, letting her head rest on his shoulder. But now, he lay down next to her, with his arm around her. She could feel his steady heartbeat. Hear his even breathing. Yet somehow, it was the sound of her own heart that thundered louder.
Duran, as vigilant as ever, maintained his watch without complaint. Ruhan and Xiao Zhi, fragile in their own ways, huddled together, finding warmth and comfort in each other's presence.
"Sleep," Ruhan whispered. "Just for a little while. Tomorrow, we keep moving."
Xiao Zhi closed her eyes, leaning against him, feeling protected, safe. The desert night stretched cold and merciless. She let herself drift to sleep, hoping that this nightmare would end, and that she would wake up in her own bed.