Waves of heat crashed down on the woman, and many grains of sand made themselves home between her sandals. The journey meant to last a couple of hours extended past that frame as both companion and ride left Cali stranded far from her destination. The only way to finish the journey was to walk through the desert to Dalry.

Cali wore the wrong type of shoes for this trip, along with an expression of palpable annoyance. Though, the type of shoes would not have mattered if she had her ride. Crossing a desert by foot was never her plan. The only solace she could find in this situation was that her possessions were few and easy for her to carry. Memories of this week's events caused Cali to bite her lip. The flesh began to tear, and unsatisfied, she began to scream.

The cry never finished as another sound emerged from behind her.

What began as a tiny dot in the sky had increased in size. From the west came a flying ship the size of, well, there is nothing to compare. The ship hogs the open skies like an overgrown mammoth and turns the golden sand below into an ashen grey. Perhaps they could also turn a stranded person into a ship passenger.

The only thing to do as a potential passenger is to make herself noticeable to the crew's lookout. Cali's hands began to search within the small bag over her shoulder. From it, she grabbed a red scarf to wave. The watchman missing the scarf would mean two bad things. She would continue her walk through the hot desert sands while the crew would be oblivious to the need for a new lookout.

Preferably to a competent one who would not miss the red against the blank canvas of golden sand.

It did not take long for her to be spotted and for the ship to descend. As flying vessels rarely land on an unstable surface, they hovered a few meters from the sand and extended a bridge to her. They seemed to carry cargo along with a considerably large-sized crew. Cali joined them as something close to extra luggage. The expensive kind of luggage that paid a large sum.

Cali leaned against the rails aboard the ship named Icarus. A short name compared to the other ships she had ridden before. Icarus, unfortunately, made this passenger quite wary of the sun.

"Welcome!" a man's voice echoed behind her. Cali swung around, stunned at the picture before her. A dark elf in the desert is as unusual as a fish out of the water. Those of that race stuck to the thick Sygne Forest, a former capital city of a great kingdom. Past glory did not predict a future as an overgrown bush.

The woman in front of him, blankly staring at his visage, gave the dark elf a well-needed ego boost. His approach began with a great start. "Please, you're making me blush," he laughed. Cali immediately casts her eyes elsewhere, apologizing for her absentmindedness. How could she let her guard down when the last elf she met tried killing her? "Once again, I welcome you aboard the ship Icarus," the dark elf's head lowered, and his hands fell upon his chest. "I am the ship's captain, Arkyn. Call me Ark."

"You may call me Cali. I thank you for your hospitality." Well, if her golden coin had allowed her any hospitality. Cali began to miss the traitors who slaughtered her pardus and left her at the desert's mercy. After all, they did it all for less than a gold coin. "Is Cali short for something?" Arkyn began to rattle as many names as he could think up. Calliope, Calia, Cailyn, Camelia or Carla. He was the most talkative elf Cali had met. The only elf who thought anything with a C or L could be hers. Raising a hand to stop the rambling elf, she said, "Cali is what my friends call me."

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

She doesn't have any friends. So clearly, it was a lie.

The very thought was like a needle pricking her chest. 'No friends,' the sentence repeated in her mind. Still, the only people who called her first name were those trying to kill her. "Then, Cali, can I ask why you are heading to Dalry?" Arkyn's eyes sparkled with what could be called blatant curiosity. It was not, but unsuspecting, Cali found it cute. "I'm looking for treasure," A half-truth. Cali gave Arkyn a big toothy grin and basked in the man's chuckle. "Hopefully, not mine. I'd put up quite the fight."

"You're too young to have anything interesting."

Treasure truly begins to gain value with age. Today's vase and that of 400 years ago do not compete. Arkyn squinted his eyes and smiled, "Why Dalry? We aren't exactly known for anything but wine and women." Perhaps Arkyn has only experienced those two. "When I get there, it will be known for its wine."

"Banter aside, Dalry has what I am seeking. Would you believe me if I said I was following a rumour?" What rumour could a foreigner have to tell a native? Arkyn's gaze turned wary. He initially approached Cali after hearing his crew whisper about the beautiful rescue. What kind of captain would he be if he did not investigate? If the warm reception continued to his sleeping quarters, that also be considered 'investigation'. However, hearing Cali's plans in Dalry, the type of hospitality he planned on displaying paused.

Arkyn disliked treasure hunters. The treasure those hunters seek is usually in someone's grave. Now what? Some rumour he had never heard about coming from a self-proclaimed treasure hunter? Perhaps he should have left this one in the dunes. Arkyn quickly put away the thought of ignoring the stranded woman. It is better to get as much information as possible from this woman. However, it would not be simple if she had not even given her full name. "This is the first I've heard of a rumoured treasure in Dalry."

"Someone I know," That Cali used to know, but they are dead now. "Spoke of the item I need being in Capulta caverns." A gust of wind tossed her hair around. Arkyn lifted a finger and pulled a strand behind Cali's ear. The woman followed his movement with discerning eyes. Arkyn's actions were too intimate, checking something. "You are going alone? Without any mana?" He asked. Arkyn had met few with so little mana. Regardless of her company leaving, it was hard to believe she was travelling through the desert with no way to defend herself. Arkyn once again felt cautious.

"Does the captain usually worry this much for a stranger?" Arkyn was six feet deep into something that did not concern him. Cali had already given enough to hold the conversation. "Are we not friends, Cali? Call me Ark." Yes, he considered her a friend. The kind he'd pay keen interest to from now on. Treasure hunters have proven themselves to be immoral without fail. Arkyn could not allow this hunter to continue what the others started. Dalry cannot get shaken again.

"Please do forgive me for coming off as intrusive. Perhaps I can make it up to you later? Unfortunately, I must depart as the ship is preparing to land." With an apologetic smile, Arkyn left Cali to her own devices. Make it up later? If he plans on approaching her after the ship lands, he better be quick. Cali did not plan on staying here longer than necessary.

The image of Dalry before Cali reminded her of the aim in mind. She had no time to play around with ship captains. Arkyn had no intention of playing with her either. For him, it was time to put all eyes on Cali.