The sun casts a warm glow onto the darkening desert as sand flares up from the front of the sand-gliding vehicle. Kalan looks over to D’aliah, who’s showing her anxiety with the tapping of her foot and her unnecessarily tight grip on one of the supports. He hasn’t thought much of the situation they were collected by Kar’ver. He figures they would have to go on a bit of a journey to find the medicine he’s hoping to find. What has him more concerned is whether it truly exists, the thought of permanently losing a part of his life doesn’t sit well. Knowing that many of the memories include D’aliah adds to his desire to correct whatever happened. What happened? His mind darts before hitting a wall. He has nothing.

Not even a blur.

He turns to Kar’ver who’s mechanically shifting and jostling his arm with the rudder placed firmly between his thin, steel fingers. He doesn’t seem so dangerous, but why would he be so confident if he wasn’t? Kar’ver claimed to know Kalan when they arrived, so he knows Kalan’s dangerous. Why would a highborn send only him?

“What are her plans with us?” Kalan pipes up. “Ms. Shay'an,”

“Ya’ll know nothin’ of Nihil, huh? ” Kar’ver responds, passing Kalan a bored glance. “What’s the point of them fancy educations then?”

D’aliah and Kalan both stay silent, making their ignorance the obvious answer. Kar’ver is right though, they would have learnt about Nihil in schooling, but he can’t remember anything. The thought of Nihil arrives at the same barrier.

“You're Valantian too," D'aliah responds, "Why treat your own people this way?"

"Worlds much bigger than our people tend to think," Kar'ver levels with them, "I'm Nihilian too."

Kalan sees Kar'ver's reluctance and feels the need to clue in on the serum they're looking for. Does that give too much away? His mind queries. Kar'ver already knows a lot about them, so it could be worth the risk. However, asking Kar'ver will expose that they aren't familiar with their past, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation.

"What do you know of a serum that restores memories?" D'aliah asks, taking the words out of Kalan's mouth. Did she even consider the risks or is she just that foolish?

"Memories?" Kar'ver reiterates before chuckling to himself. "What happened, darlin'? Ya get manipulated by Al'chem?" He asks.

"Al'chem can erase memories?" Kalan asks, prompting Kar'ver to return a curious glance.

"No idea," He responds. "Al'chem ain't exactly my speciality,"

"What is your speciality?" Kalan asks.

"The two of ya enjoy attacking others with questions ey," Kar'ver remarks.

The vehicle jitters violently, lowering gears as it slows down and comes to a sudden halt.

"We should get some rest," Kar'ver announces as he steps off the vehicle. He opens a compartment on the exterior of the vehicle and removes a few pieces of wood, a jug of water, and a boiling kit. "The sun is almost set and it'll be gettin' real cold soon. Grab those sleeping bags under ya seat girl. Kalan, you bring this wood."

Kar'ver steps a few paces away from the resting glider as Kalan and D'aliah both step onto the sands, each bringing their luggage over to Kar'ver. Kalan places the wood in a pile that Kar'ver sparks into a flame using a few matches. He places the boiling kit above the newborn flame and pours half the jug of water into the pot.

"I ain't got no food with me, but we'll be arrivin' in the morning. You can eat up then," Kar'ver says.

"Are all Nihilians so secretive?" D'aliah asks.

"It'd serve you well to be more secretive, yourself," He responds. "Ya'll have been doin' far too much talking,"

The water starts to boil, as the pot softly simmers above the now raging fire that casts a soft sunset-like glow on them and the ground. The light dissipates a few paces away, falling into the infinite darkness at its end. A light such as this would stand out like a sore thumb and Kalan starts weighing up the dangers.

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"Al'chem ain't so popular in Nihil, but I've heard a few stories of talented users," Kar'ver reveals to them.

"Who?" D'aliah asks. "Where can we find them?"

"Ya best bet is in the West of Nihil," He responds. "But ya'll ain't going to have much time for that,"

"Who do we need to find?" D'aliah pushes, her eyes completely uninterested in Kar'ver's evasion tactics.

"No idea," He answers as he reaches over to the scorching pot. He clips on a hand and funnel to the pot, grabbing the nearest sleeping back on twisting a cap on the top of it. He pours some of the boiling water into the uncapped hole in the sleeping bag and twists the cap back closed before laying the bag on the floor.

"In the East, it is forbidden to use Al'chem or the magic. In the West it's a different story," Kar'ver adds as he pours water into a second sleeping bag.

"Different how?" Kalan asks.

Kar'ver lays the second sleeping bag down before he starts filling up the last one. "The winds will be rollin' in soon. If ya wanna chat, do it from ya sleepin' bag,"

Kalan passes a look to D'aliah, telling her to trust him and get in the bags. Something about the winds sounds familiar to Kalan, he remembers something about the wind being the source of cold during the winter here. The sun never truly stops heating the sands, but at night, it can't compete with the current. They both slide into their sleeping bags, the warm water stored between the fibre keeps them dry and much hotter than they were before. Kar'ver slides into his sleeping bag as well and each of them lay around the fire with the top of their cocoons still open.

"Different how?" Kalan repeats, nearly shouting to make sure Kar'ver can hear him.

"There's not so much of a 'law' that side," Kar'ver responds.

"What?" D'aliah asks, perplexed and propping herself upwards on her elbow. "How can there be no law?"

Kar'ver chuckles, shaking his head at her. "There ain't no government on that side. The highborn prefer using their time to gamble,"

"Gamble?" Kalan asks.

"Yes, the highborn with the largest wealth is the ruler of the West,"

"How can a nation thrive with such a system?" D'aliah asks.

"It can't," Kar'ver responds. "Anyone that ain't a highborn or working for one is gonna have a tough time getting their hands on food and water,"

"So we'll be working for one then?" Kalan asks.

Kar'ver chuckles again, looking up at the orbs filling the darkened sky. "Somethin' like that,"

"So explain to me Kar'ver. Why shouldn't Kalan and I kill you and steal this vehicle of yours? I for one am not so interested in being a slave," D'aliah inquires. Her face sours as though she is genuinely considering this option and at face value, it does not seem like a bad idea.

"Nothing at all," Kar'ver responds, chuckling. "I would not make it easy for you though. I'm also certain that you would not fare well against the sands."

"Oh, I'm sure we could figure it out," Kalan adds, trying to bother Kar'ver.

"It's just sand, no?" D'aliah quips.

"Then, by all means, feel free to kill me and I will put up no fight. I will be betting on your fate once I reach the Ab'solut," He laughs.

A sudden gale of wind blows through their makeshift campsite, with a single breath the breeze stubs the fire between them as a second wind can be heard crawling over the sand in the distance.

"We must seal our bags now," Kar'ver orders, reaching for the zipper on the side of his sleeping bag. "The sands of Nihil have a gift for placin' themselves in the lungs of its travellers,"

Kalan and D'aliah follow suit, passing one another a long gaze.

"I have every intention of getting our memories back," Kalan states to D'aliah.

"You seemed more interested in becoming a slave," She responds. "You don't show much concern, it can be hard to decipher you at times,"

"I'm hesitant in sharing our secrets," He winks at her before sliding into his sleeping bag and zipping it up.

He hears her sleeping bag zip up as well before the second wind rushes all around them, significantly colder than the last. The heated sleeping bag now keeps him warm enough to feel comfortable. Meeting with Ms. Shay'an does concern him, but he's uncertain of making any pre-existing judgements. It will serve them well being in the West considering Al'chem has been outlawed in the East. Kar'ver is dangerous, Kalan can tell he's skilled having noticed the dagger tucked away underneath his robes and the way he presents himself. The conflict would put D'aliah in unnecessary risk, despite how eager she seems for it. But even if she does make a mistake- I will protect her. His mind echoes.

"East Nihil is ruled by Kal'Et, who has outlawed the magic as well as the use of Al'chem after he attempted to invade the West. At this time, it is unknown why he has made this decision."

- The A'shic records.