Unusual lights blinked on the horizon. Like shimmering fireflies twirling over a lake, they flickered against the arid terrain.

  Night overtook the region, pressing a cold veil across the land. Where sweat and thirst had reigned, a freezing wind now swept through, replacing one hardship with another.

  The suffocating heat faded, but the air carried new problems.

  "The third night without proper cover…" Olivia exhaled, worry threading her voice. "We're not exactly used to cold climates. How’s everyone holding up?"

  She glanced over her shoulder at Alice.

  "Well…" Alice looked back at the maids, many faintly shivering. "Not great. The faster we reach that city, the better."

  Olivia nodded, face drawn with concern. "I see. Let’s hope we get there quickly. I’d hate for this cold to make you girls sick."

  Silence reclaimed the group, broken only by Tenebrisis’ heavy stomps echoing through the night.

  Not far from the city, Olivia made a decision.

  "Tenebrisis. I'm sorry, but you’ll have to stay here."

  Everyone had descended from his back, standing before the slumped dragon.

  (He looks exhausted.)

  (Can you blame him? He’s been walking for three days straight.)

  (We let him do the hard work while we did nothing.)

  The hushed voices behind her carried guilt and worry.

  Olivia approached Tenebrisis, whose head rested heavily on the dirt.

  "Someone your size can’t enter the city without causing panic. You’re no threat, but they won’t know that." She frowned, gaze softening. "And we can’t waste time explaining. Finding the others is the priority. This would slow us down too much."

  She ran her hand across his scales. "So… you rest here. You’re close enough for us to return quickly, and I’ll maintain the illusion around you."

  Tenebrisis nudged Olivia’s hand with the tip of his nose before lowering his head again, a silent acknowledgment of trust.

  "We’ll scout the city, get a feel for the place, ask questions if we can, and come back." She sighed. "We also need supplies. A lot of them."

  Behind her, the maids began whispering among themselves.

  "D-Do you think they have buildings that can house twenty-seven people?" a sweet, timid voice asked.

  "Don’t worry, Angie. We’ll find somewhere," Isa said brightly, unfazed by their situation.

  Eden adjusted her glasses. "As Olivia said, we also need food. The problem is…"

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Marisa stepped forward with her noble composure. "We don’t have money. At least, not the kind this world uses."

  A shadow crept behind Angie before crimson eyes revealed themselves.

  "We can always steal it," Zara said calmly. "Not ideal, but we’re not from here. If it comes to that, we’d be gone by sunrise."

  Olivia turned, stern. "Zara…"

  The redhead shrugged. "It’s an option. We’re not saints."

  "I know," Olivia admitted, troubled. "Which is what makes it difficult. I’d rather we stay inconspicuous. The less suspicion we draw, the better."

  A soft laugh rose from the group. "Do you really think walking around with twenty-five maids is inconspicuous?"

  Alice, expression stone-flat, tilted her head. "Do you have a better idea, Noelle?"

  "No need to bite…" Noelle crossed her arms under her heavy chest. "Why not split into smaller groups? Move around the city and gather intel separately."

  "That was already my plan," Olivia cut in, voice firm.

  Instantly, the entire squad straightened, eyes forward.

  "We spoke out of line," Eden murmured, her glasses sliding delicately down her nose.

  "It’s fine," Olivia said, though her tone sharpened. "But remember this: we’re in enemy territory, and we don’t know who might be watching."

  "Marie is with Orion now. That means I need all of you to remain strong. I won’t always be there to give orders."

  "This land is unknown to us. You’re all here with me—and I intend for every one of you to return home."

  "So choose your steps carefully. We don’t know what waits in that city."

  Even as she spoke, a faint tremor of doubt coiled in her chest. Olivia wasn’t invincible. She wasn’t unshakeable. She was simply doing everything she could to keep them safe and prepared for anything.

  The maids absorbed every word, united in silent determination.

  "For some reason, that sounded harsh. Was it necessary?" Keleanos asked quietly as he approached, book in hand.

  "It was." Olivia didn’t look away from her squad. "This isn't a vacation. Every action will shape our future here. One careless mistake could cost us dearly."

  The maids closed their eyes in understanding.

  Eden and Alice stepped forward and bowed their heads.

  "We will tread carefully," Alice said.

  "We cannot risk hostility with the people of this world," Eden added.

  "Good." Olivia finally relaxed, letting out a long breath. "I didn’t mean to darken the mood. I just want us prepared."

  "Stay on guard. All of you. That includes you, Keleanos." Her gaze met his. "Don’t let your worries cloud your judgment."

  He lowered his eyes and opened his book, only to realize he’d reread the same page three times without absorbing a word. "I'll try." A bitter smile formed on his face as he realized the truth behind her words.

  They turned toward the lights ahead, the city calling through the darkened night, where clouds hovered in the distance.

  "Let’s move."

  With that order, everyone except Tenebrisis set off toward the city.

  Half an hour later, they reached its entrance. Rain poured from the sky, starkly contrasting the dusty, arid desert behind them.

  Pavement glistened beneath the downpour. The rhythm of heavy rain weighed on the spirits of the citizens moving within the walls, as though it were the city’s natural heartbeat.

  Two groups split as they passed through the lax, barely guarded gate.

  Inside a steel shelter, guards in strange uniforms laughed and played cards, undisturbed by the drenched newcomers.

  The guards barely looked up. Their indifference felt wrong—as if strangers arriving in the dead of night was nothing unusual at all.

  Olivia, with half her maids, headed straight toward the city’s core.

  The streets shimmered with neon symbols she couldn’t decipher, and the buildings rose in sharp, impossible angles—architecture that defied the world Olivia lived in. The strange, tall building displayed an architecture streamlined and employed to compact as many people as possible within their walls.

  Keleanos guided the other half along a leftward street.

  Both groups wandered in the rain-soaked darkness until they found hotels in separate districts.

  For the first time in days, they slept on real beds, free from tremors and heat.

  When they finally reached the beds, some of the maids nearly collapsed as the warmth met their freezing skin.

  At dawn, they awoke to a grey world still wrapped in rain.

  The day marked the beginning of a long quest—one that would grow far beyond anything they could imagine.