Navigating the sun-scorched desert without a drop of water turned each step into a battle against the relentless rays. Zeke and his group found themselves engulfed in an unforgiving heat that seemed to challenge their very existence.

The mirages on the horizon taunted him with false promises of relief, making the vast expanse feel like an endless, arid canvas. With every footfall, the dry earth beneath seemed to greedily absorb any lingering moisture, leaving his worn-out soles to grapple with the harsh reality of the terrain.

Zeke tried to swallow. However, his throat had long run out of moisture. Thirst clung to his esophagus like a persistent foe, intensifying with each desperate attempt to swallow. The air, devoid of any mercy, shimmered with the relentless heat, wrapping him in a suffocating embrace.

Despite all that, he didn’t slow his steps. None of them did. There was nothing to be gained and everything to be lost from remaining still for too long. Their guide had been experienced enough to avoid any dangerous regions, but Zeke and his companions were not.

They quickly learned that there were bigger threats prowling these sands than the Elementals they had run away from. During the first hours of their journey, Zeke had almost been devoured by a worm the size of a castle. Even with all of them working together, they had not been its match. Running away was all they could do.

Fortunately, it seemed they had finally left the hunting grounds of that terrifying creature. And by the time the sun began to darken, they had put even more distance between them.

“I think this is enough,” Zeke said as he came to a halt.

“Are you sure about that, master?” Vulcanos asked. “Shouldn’t we use the darkness to our advantage instead? The temperature is far more pleasant than during the day.”

Zeke bit his lip. He had to agree. The nights might get chilly, but with Vulcanos Magic, the cold wasn’t something they had to fear. It was the sun that proved the bigger threat. However, he still shook his head. “None of the caravans move at night. Do you know why?”

Vulcanos tilted his head.

“It’s because the true predators come out at night. And with none of us able to see farther than a few steps, we’ll make for easy prey.”

Zeke then sat down and closed his eyes. “What’s the status, Akasha?”

[Answer]

Reporting progress. We have made it 13.2% of the way back and are ahead of the projection.