"Is everyone alright?" Alistair's voice cut through the haze, distorted yet unmistakably concerned.

"Still breathing," Milo managed to reply, blinking rapidly to clear his vision.

"Good," Xu Wei chimed in.

As the light dimmed, it unveiled a vast expanse of sand and heat stretching out before them, along with large canyons dotted across the landscape. The sun bore down mercilessly, relentless waves of scorching air making it difficult to breathe, let alone move.

Milo squinted against the glare, scanning the horizon for any signs of reprieve from the desolate landscape. But there was nothing save for the endless sea of sand dunes, shifting and morphing with the whims of the wind.

"Gods," Xu Wei muttered, wiping a sheen of sweat from his forehead. "This is unbearable."

"Where are we?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"Desert," Alistair panted, wiping sweat from his brow. "I didn't have enough time to calibrate the portal properly, I'm sorry."

"No thank you," Milo grumbled, his throat parched and aching for water. "You got us out of harms way in the first place, don't apologize."

Xu Wei jumped in. "We need to find shelter, or we're not going to last long out here."

"Agreed," Alistair nodded, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed their surroundings. "Milo, you're our survival expert. Any ideas?"

"Don't look at me, if we were in a jungle you can call me an expert... But this, I'm out of my depth," he responded.

"Then let's just follow the direction of the wind, it should lead us to something, I guess," Xu Wei said.

"Sounds like a plan," Alistair said with determination, falling into step beside Milo as they began their trek across the barren wasteland.

"Maybe you could conjure us some water?" Xu Wei suggested, his voice strained from the heat.

"Once we find cover," Alistair promised. "I need to conserve as much energy as I can for now. We don't know what other surprises this desert has in store for us."

"Right," Milo agreed, his mind racing with possible hazards and obstacles that lay ahead. As the sun beat down upon them, he steeled his resolve, drawing on the resilience that had carried him through countless trials in the past.

"Let's keep moving," he urged.

The trio set off through the treacherous sands, their bodies growing heavier with each step. Thoughts of the Alexis plagued Milo's mind. His heart felt like it'd been stabbed by a thousand tiny needles all at once.

"Hey, Alistair," Milo called out, his voice hoarse from the arid air. "What are the odds we run into something dangerous out here?"

"Difficult to say," Alistair replied, his brows furrowing in thought. "Deserts are full of surprises, both good and bad."

"Great," Milo sighed. "Just what we need."

"Stay alert and keep moving," Xu Wei encouraged. "We'll find a way out of this."

...

The sun blazed mercilessly overhead, casting a blanket of sweltering heat over Milo and his companions as they trudged through the endless desert. Each step felt heavier than the last, their feet sinking into the shifting sands with every labored stride. Sweat trickled down Milo's temples, stinging his eyes, and he cursed under his breath.

"Water," Xu Wei croaked, his voice barely audible above the scorching wind that whipped at their faces.

"Of course," Alistair replied, raising his hand to summon a small orb of water that hovered within his grasp. He passed it to Xu Wei, who eagerly drank from it, his throat bobbing in relief. After he had taken his fill, Alistair conjured more for Milo and himself, allowing them all a moment's respite before continuing their arduous journey.

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"Thanks," Milo muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand after quenching his thirst. "We'd already be dead without your help Alistair. How do you even do that?"

Alistair's brow furrowed in concentration as he raised his hands, energy crackling around him. "I'll do better than that, I've had enough of this heat as well. Hold on."

Milo could feel the sudden shift in temperature as Alistair weaved his arcane magic, creating a barrier that enveloped them in a marginally cooler environment. The relentless heat became bearable, though far from comfortable.

"Wow," Milo breathed, momentarily awestruck by the change. "How did you learn to do that? Is it something all Arcanists know?"

"Actually, no," Alistair admitted, his gaze focused on maintaining the barrier. "I studied to become a true Arcanist, a master of all elements, but my time with the clan only allowed me to gain proficiency in four elements: earth, water, wind, and fire."

"Only four?" Milo scoffed, attempting to inject humor into the dire situation. "So, you're saying you're not a master of everything?"

"Ha," Alistair replied, a hint of a smile on his lips despite their plight. "I'm far from it, but I'm competent enough with those four."

Milo's thoughts swirled as they continued their journey, considering the implications of Alistair's admission.

"Hey," he said, breaking the silence. "If we encounter more trouble, can we count on your magic? It could make all the difference."

"Of course," Alistair reassured him, determination hardening his features. "I'll do everything in my power to protect us. I've stored some mana potions just in case we need them... And usually I'd say we should brave the heat, but it's killing us."

The trio marched onward, the vast desert stretching out before them like an unforgiving ocean of sand.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a kaleidoscope of warm colors across the sky as shadows crept over the sand dunes. A vulture circled overhead, its piercing cry a haunting reminder of the desert's unforgiving nature.

Milo squinted into the distance, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape for any sign of reprieve.

"Look!" Xu Wei exclaimed, pointing towards a faint glimmer on the horizon. "Is that...?"

"An oasis," Alistair confirmed, his voice a mixture of relief and disbelief. The shimmering mirage stood out like a beacon of hope amidst the sea of sand, and Milo felt a renewed surge of energy course through his veins.

"Let's hurry up," he urged, quickening his pace. "I don't know about you two, but I could use some real water. No offense Alistair."

"None taken," the man responded.

"Agreed," Xu Wei replied, falling into step beside him. "Alistair, can you maintain the barrier while we move faster?"

"Of course," Alistair answered with a nod, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he focused on sustaining the cooling shield that enveloped them.

As the shimmering oasis grew nearer, the trio pushed themselves to their limits, driven by the promise of cool water and temporary respite from the desert's relentless grip. Sand clung to their skin, a constant reminder of the treacherous journey that had led them to this point.

"Xu Wei," Milo panted, as they neared their destination. "When we get there, any chance you can use your wind magic to blow some of this sand off?"

"Consider it done," Xu Wei replied with a grin, his eyes alight with anticipation.

The oasis loomed larger on the horizon, its verdant foliage and crystalline waters beckoning to them like a siren's song. They quickened their pace, ignoring the protests of their weary bodies, their eyes fixed on the prize ahead.

"Almost there," Milo muttered, his legs trembling from fatigue. "Just a little bit further."

Milo's boots sank into the soft sand as they finally reached the oasis. The lush greenery, a stark contrast to the barren landscape they had trudged through for hours, cast dappled shadows on the ground. A small pool of clear water sparkled invitingly at the heart of the oasis.

"Finally," Xu Wei sighed, dropping his pack beside the water's edge. "I never thought I'd be this grateful for a bit of shade."

"Neither did I," Milo agreed, his voice hoarse. He knelt by the pool, cupping his hands and scooping up the cool water. As it flowed down his parched throat, he could almost feel the life returning to his body. He took another handful, splashing it on his sunburnt face and washing away the grit that had accumulated during their journey.

"Xu Wei, you're up." Alistair gestured toward the wind mage, who raised his hands and summoned a gentle breeze. Sand flew from their clothes and hair, leaving them feeling cleaner, if not entirely refreshed.

"Thanks," Milo said, watching as the last remnants of sand danced away on the wind. "Feels good to be rid of that."

"Enjoy it while it lasts," Alistair warned, his eyes scanning the surrounding dunes. "We don't know what's waiting out there for us."

"Always the optimist, aren't you?" Milo asked with a wry smile. Within him, a constant push and pull between hope and doubt waged war. But now was not the time for either. Now, they needed respite.

"Can you blame me?" Alistair shook his head, settling down in the shade. "The Alliance won't be far behind, and we're stuck in this blasted desert with no sure way out. I can't open another portal until I've recovered all the mana I wasted to get us here in the first place."

"True," Milo conceded, leaning against a palm tree. "But we've faced worse odds before, right?"

"Indeed," Xu Wei chimed in, his voice firm. "We will find a way out of this desert, and we will face the Alliance when the time comes."

"Agreed," Alistair nodded. "We just need to stay vigilant and make the most of this temporary sanctuary. Give me a day and I'll get us out of here."

Milo closed his eyes, listening to the sound of rustling leaves and the distant whisper of wind over sand. For a moment, he allowed himself to forget about the dangers lurking beyond the oasis, focusing instead on the simple pleasure of cool water and the shade of swaying palm trees.

"Keep an eye out for anything useful around here," Alistair suggested. "Food, supplies, anything that might help us survive out there."

"Let's do it," Milo said, pushing himself to his feet. As they began to scour the oasis for resources, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that their enemies were closing in. The sands of the desert hid secrets and danger alike, and Milo knew they had little time to waste.

"Stay sharp," he reminded his friends, his gaze sweeping the horizon. "We never know what we'll encounter next."