MEMELAND

The caravan departed Oheyo before sunrise.

The desert was cold.

Far colder than Kai had expected.

The scorching heat of the day had vanished, replaced by a biting chill that seeped through his borrowed desert clothes.

He pulled the scarf over his mouth.

"...I thought deserts were supposed to be hot."

One of the Outlaws laughed.

"Only during the day."

"Night wants you dead too."

Kai frowned.

"...This place sucks."

"It does."

Munnu answered without hesitation.

"But it's our home."

---

As the sun slowly climbed over the horizon...

The temperature changed almost instantly.

The cold disappeared.

Heat took its place.

The sand shimmered.

The wind carried grains that stung exposed skin.

Kai adjusted the clear goggles Munnu had given him.

"...These are actually useful."

"I told you."

Munnu grinned.

"You looked like a tourist before."

The Outlaws burst into laughter.

One of them pointed at Kai.

"I still can't believe he walked into the desert wearing forest boots."

Another added,

"And no face wrap."

"Amazing he survived."

Kai rubbed the back of his head.

"I wasn't exactly planning to visit a desert..."

Persia spoke while inspecting a salvaged component.

"No."

"You were planning to die."

"...Thanks."

---

They continued traveling.

This time...

Not toward Asphyxia.

Toward another settlement.

One built between rocky cliffs where traders frequently stopped before crossing deeper into the eastern deserts.

Kai looked around.

Unlike Asphyxia...

Nothing here lasted forever.

Tracks disappeared within hours.

Buildings were buried halfway in sand.

Entire roads shifted every few months.

It felt...

Temporary.

One strong sandstorm...

And the landscape itself changed.

---

After several hours...

They stopped.

Munnu raised his hand.

"Break."

Immediately everyone scattered.

Some checked supplies.

Others cleaned weapons.

A few simply collapsed into the sand.

Kai sat beneath the shadow of a large boulder.

He closed his eyes.

Without thinking...

He reached outward.

The strange sensation returned.

Mana.

Tiny streams.

Everywhere.

Flowing through the desert itself.

It wasn't abundant like the Forest.

But it existed.

Different.

Dry.

Almost sluggish.

Like water slowly moving beneath layers of rock.

Kai concentrated.

Just for a moment.

Nothing happened.

He sighed.

"...Guess it's not that easy."

A familiar memory surfaced.

Not a vision.

Not a headache.

Just...

A feeling.

Someone.

Sitting cross-legged.

Breathing.

Listening.

Not forcing mana.

Following it.

The feeling vanished almost immediately.

Kai opened his eyes.

"...Follow it..."

He whispered.

He tried again.

This time...

Instead of reaching for mana...

He simply observed it.

The streams became clearer.

Only slightly.

But enough.

A faint smile appeared.

"I think..."

"I'm getting it."

---

"Talking to yourself again?"

Kai nearly jumped.

Munnu stood behind him.

Holding two pieces of flatbread.

He tossed one toward Kai.

"Catch."

Kai caught it awkwardly.

"Thanks."

Munnu sat beside him.

Neither spoke for several minutes.

The desert wind filled the silence.

Eventually...

Munnu broke it.

"You changed."

Kai looked over.

"...What?"

"You look calmer."

Kai thought about it.

"...Maybe."

"You found something back there."

Munnu wasn't asking.

He was stating a fact.

Kai stared at the bread in his hands.

"I found..."

"...pieces."

"Pieces of what?"

"Myself."

Munnu blinked.

"...That sounds complicated."

"It is."

Munnu nodded.

"Good."

Kai looked confused.

"What?"

"If it was simple..."

"It probably wouldn't be worth finding."

Kai stared at him.

Then laughed.

"...You know..."

"For someone who blows villages up..."

"You say surprisingly wise things."

Munnu looked offended.

"I'll have you know."

"I only blow up villages professionally."

Kai couldn't help laughing harder.

---

Elsewhere...

Persia quietly watched them.

His expression remained unreadable behind his clear glasses.

One of the Outlaws approached.

"You okay?"

Persia adjusted the large radio on his back.

"I'm fine."

"You've been quiet."

"I usually am."

"...True."

The Outlaw walked away.

Persia's eyes drifted toward Kai.

"...Interesting."

He muttered.

Very quietly.

"So that's why..."

The wind swallowed the rest.

---

By late afternoon...

The caravan began moving again.

Kai naturally found himself walking beside Munnu.

"So."

Munnu said.

"You still planning to go back west eventually?"

Kai nodded.

"I have people waiting."

"Friends?"

"...Yeah."

Munnu smiled.

"Don't keep them waiting too long."

Kai smiled back.

"I won't."

---

Far ahead...

A cluster of sandstone buildings slowly appeared beyond the dunes.

Watchtowers.

Market tents.

Smoke rising from chimneys.

A settlement.

Not large.

Not small.

Just enough to survive.

Munnu pointed toward it.

"There."

"The next stop."

Kai looked at the settlement.

For some reason...

The moment he saw it...

A strange unease settled into his chest.

His heartbeat quickened.

No headache.

No memories.

Just...

Instinct.

Something...

Was wrong.

Very wrong.

He couldn't explain it.

He simply knew.

And somewhere within that settlement...

Someone smiled.

Unaware...

That the desert itself was quietly moving toward another tragedy.