“Why is it so damn hard to find water in the desert?!” Kandy grumbled to himself as he slowly trudged through the sand. “And this stuff is terrible! It’s like I’m wading through mud.”

Indeed, Kandy had spent the last few hours aimlessly making his way across the vast desert. Every so often he’d spotted signs of civilization; a billboard here, a few broken weapons there, stuff like that.

One time he’d cut open a cactus and drank its juice—Kandy wasn’t quite sure what transpired immediately afterwards, but by the time he came to, the phrase “All hail the cactus” was stuck in his head.

He’d then decided that he’d only drink from another cactus again if absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately, with how parched his throat was, that time seemed to be fast approaching.

He crested another hill—and raised his arms toward the sky, cheering. There was a village before him. It was a small one, as he could see its entirety from his vantage point, but Kandy didn’t care about that.

After all, he’d found civilization! And civilization meant food! Civilization meant water!

With renewed vigor, he ran towards the village with all the speed and strength he could muster.

As he neared the village’s entrance, however, a half-dozen warriors stepped out from behind the spiked barricades surrounding the village and blocked his way.

“Speak, strange child! What is your purpose here? Have you been sent to bring plague and famine to our homes?!” The foremost and strongest-looking shouted, derision in his eyes clear as he observed Kandy’s exhausted form.

Kandy frantically shook his head. “What? No! I’m just lost! Please, I’ve been walking in the desert for hours and hours, and I—”

Kandy shuddered as he reached toward his hairband with the crystal attached to it. All this time he’d been making his way through the desert, tired, hungry, and thirsty…

He’d somehow forgotten about the supplies stored in his Holding item.

Still, he had bigger issues to deal with now, as his sudden movement had drawn the ire of the warriors before him.

Whereas they’d simply been standing at guard earlier, they were now on edge, pointing their spears and swords at him.

“Woah, woah.” Kandy slowly lowered his arm and presented his hands, palms face-up. “I’m not doing anything, okay? I just need a place to rest for a day or two, then I’ll be on my way. Does that work?”

“No. Be on your way,” the warrior curtly responded.

“Yeesh, okay. I get it, I get it.” Kandy raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll be on my way then. Can you at least point me towards a town or city?”

The warrior stared at Kandy without responding.

“Are you trying to ask for a bribe or something? Is that it?” Kandy dryly asked.

Another warrior, one who’d been standing towards the back of the formation, spoke up. “He will not help one he does not respect. If you wish to receive our help, you must defeat our leader in an honorable duel.”

“So like a spar?” Kandy raised an eyebrow. “I could go for a spar. Do any of you have… tea?”

***

The entire village had come to the entrance to watch the duel—there even seemed to be bets going around, as Kandy spotted several of the spectators murmuring to each other while counting with their fingers.

Kandy chuckled to himself as he casually spun his dagger around in dizzying patterns. It was almost like he was back in Boomtown—but better. Better, because here he wouldn’t have to fight Milton, that monstrous dog, or Dekkeron, or any of the others with their hands tied behind their backs.

None of that nonsense.

The tall warrior flexed his arms and bowed towards Kandy, who awkwardly did his best to reciprocate. Then, he lowered the head of his spear and charged forward.

Kandy absentmindedly stared at the tip of the warrior’s spear. Compared to the Boomtown’s fighters, this man’s movements were unrefined, and far too slow.

He easily sidestepped the warrior’s thrust and rushed up close, then lifted the blade of his dagger to the warrior’s neck. The entire bout had lasted only a few seconds.

“It’s my victory,” Kandy stated.

Unwilling to accept his defeat, the warrior growled and jumped backwards. “Again!”

“Well hey, come on now! You said it was a duel! I beat you!” Kandy protested.

“I—” The warrior stopped speaking immediately as an armored giant of a human stepped out from behind the crowd.

“What are you doing, Yared?” the massive man’s voice boomed across the desert.

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The warrior Kandy had been fighting, straightened his back and responded stiffly, “Jabari. As is custom, this outsider has challenged me to a duel for the right of receiving our assistance.”

“What sort of assistance?”

“...Directions.”

“Yared. You made him challenge you to a duel for directions, lost, and are now demanding a rematch?” Jabari folded his massive arms over his chest armor and stared daggers at the smaller warrior.

“Back off.”

Yared’s neck muscles popped as he stared at Jabari. For a few tense moments it almost seemed that they would fight, but the former looked away and backed off.

After Yared and his friends were far enough, Jabari turned and addressed Kandy. “I am Jabari. You are not a bad fighter. Where did you learn your techniques?”

Kandy shrugged. “I’m Kandy, and thanks. I had a few teachers. What was wrong with that guy? Yared?”

Jabari shook his head. “He is a weak man, not worthy of your attention. He and his ilk simply lack the ability to hold the blessing of the Great Crow, so they use whatever ill-intentioned methods are available to them to try and pursue what they cannot have.”

“I… what does that mean?” Kandy felt his brain hurting from Jabari’s roundabout explanation.

Jabari raised an eyebrow. “Do you not possess the Crow’s Mark?”

After a quick exchange of looks, Jabari turned toward the villagers and waved them off. “My friends, the show is over. Kindly allow this stranger to catch his breath.”

The villagers quickly dispersed and Kandy nodded his head towards Jabari in appreciation. “Thanks for the help.”

“Do not thank me just yet, stranger. Come with me.” Jabari abruptly turned and strode into the desert the same way Kandy had arrived.

Kandy shook his head in confusion, but still followed.

Once they were a few hundred paces from the village and hidden in the depths of a sand dune, Jabari finally turned around and faced Kandy. “You are not from this world, are you?”

“I—uh, what? What makes you say that?” Kandy innocently whistled before turning his head to the side.

“Do not lie to me, stranger. The others may not have the mind to see it, but I am sure you do not know the customs of this world. It would do you best to be honest with me, as I am not your foe. I will only ask once more—do you have the Crow’s Mark?”

Kandy thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I don’t. Not really sure what that is. You mind filling me in?”

His thumb tensed over the button hidden in his dagger. If this Jabari fellow were to make any sudden moves…

Jabari lifted the right sleeve of his armor, which looked to be simple cloth covered in metal scales.

Under the armor, Jabari’s entire right arm was covered in tattoos—and in the center, the tattoo was moving as if it were alive.

“The Crow’s Mark is sacred. It is tattooed onto each and every warrior of Emberos and records our victories and defeats… and our kills. The more impressive your Crow’s Mark, the higher status a warrior has.

“That is why Yared was unwilling to accept his loss. He is not a capable fighter—he has strength and naught else.”

“Huh. Okay, that makes sense. That’s also why he wasn’t willing to help me unless I fought him, huh.” Kandy shook his head. “What a prick.”

“Indeed.” Jabari looked Kandy up and down. “As a man, you will find your life here on Emberos quite difficult without a Crow’s Mark.”

“Hmm.” Kandy leaned forward to examine Jabari’s tattoo. “All it does is track these things, right? Nothing else?”

“Nothing else. That much has been proven by countless wise men.”

“How does it do that, though? I feel like Kau would be really interested in learning about—”

“Kau?”

“A friend of mine. Well, that’s all besides the point. So how do I get tatted?” Kandy asked, his eyes gleaming.

“You will not be able to do so in the village. You will have to go to a city for that. They have Ambassador Centers there for such purposes.”

“Hm.” Kandy thought about it for a moment. “And it’s not an issue that I’m this old and not tatted yet?”

“That is the least conspicuous aspect of your identity, stranger. After all, there is not a soul in this world who looks like you.”

Kandy looked himself up and down, then at Jabari’s chiseled physique.

“Huh. Yeah, I guess you’re right. Do you think that will be an issue?”

“You are strong. On Emberos, that is enough. If you are here, that is because the Crow God has decreed it so.”

“Karasu, huh. So I guess this is his territory?”

Jabari’s eyes arrowed. Kandy winced at his mistake.

“You would be wise to keep the Crow God’s name out of your mouth… Kandy. Those loyal to the Crow God will not take to any disrespect of their deity with kindness.”

Jabari motioned with his arm towards the ground. “Yared was never going to let you in the village—they have neither space or resources. However, if you are able to brave the desert for a night, I will lead you to the city tomorrow.”

“You said they, not we. Are you not part of their village?”

“No.”

Without offering an explanation, Jabari turned and marched his way back to the village without another word.

“...What a strange man,” Kandy muttered.

As soon as Jabari disappeared beyond the dune’s crest, Kandy reached for his headband and pulled out a flask of water.

After downing the entire flask’s contents, Kandy mentally reached back into the holding space and took inventory of his remaining supplies.

Unfortunately, he only had about a day’s worth of water, but he did have a spare barrel of beer he may or may not have stolen from Sweet’s reserve stash in Blade’s bar.

That would last him another while.

Food was another story. He had a few sandwiches and strips of deer meat, but with how hungry he was now that his thirst had been sated, that wouldn’t last more than a single meal.

Kandy looked to the horizon—the sun was setting. At least that was something. Perhaps he’d be able to ask Jabari for food tomorrow.

He pulled his tent out of the holding space and quickly set it up, then crawled inside.

Before he succumbed to exhaustion, a single thought passed through his mind.

They’re going to come save me…right?