The hunt ended rather quickly. Sagiri had grown stronger and even faster since he came south. He did not need to use the archive most of the time. It was like the south, or rather the desert, was making him stronger. Now he understood why Myama had been weakened in the north. Even when he performed the desert dance this time, he almost got buried under the amount of sand that rose to meet him.

He somehow felt nostalgic about leaving the clan, but he was going to have to cross the desert to go south. They might have lived at the start of it, but it could be said they lived in the barren lands. He was going to be untouchable in it. He knew that, and it would take a fool to take him on in the desert.

Sagiri walked into his chief’s allocated house. He needed to gather his things and leave soon. This could be his last hunt with the tribe for a while, and he did not know when he could be back. Things had a tendency to go from bad to worse, especially in capitals.

"As soon as he stepped in, he was greeted by the woman sprawled on his bed. seya. It looked like she had been waiting for him.

"Shouldn’t you be training your ladies?" Sagiri said, unfazed, before he closed the door behind him.

"You see a beautiful woman lying on your bed, and that is the first thing you ask about," Seya said, sitting up slowly before she stood up.

"I don’t see a woman?" Sagiri taunted, going to pour himself a glass of water.

"You are so cold sometimes, I wonder if you are an old man or just a seventeen-year-old boy. I came to pack your bag." Seya said, tapping a bag that was beside her on the bed. It was neither too big nor too small.

"I don’t need a bag. I can just cross the desert in a day." Sagiri said.

"That is why I packed this bag for you. The desert might love you but it can still kill you." Seya said.

"You act like a pervert, then act like my mother." Sagiri snickered, walking around Seya to sit on the bed. He wanted to sleep for an hour or two before he left, or at least calm his mind further.

"I can be whatever you choose." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

There was a bit of silence.

"How many days do you think you will be gone for?" Seya asked after a while/ she was a woman who did not show emotion, but at the moment, Sagiri could feel her sadness.

"Don’t tell me you are going to miss me?" Sagiri said, shutting his eyes to give the woman some courtesy. She hated being seen as vulnerable. She gasped and opened her mouth to say something, but shut it. Two more heartbeats went by before she spoke.

"You know the southern tribes have not attacked because they are scared of you. If you stay away for long, they might attack in your absence." Seya said.

"I know, but only you know I am leaving tonight. Just tell the clan I am in the dunes for my seclusion again. I won’t abandon you." Sagiri said.

"Who is worried about you abandoning them..."

"You are my tribe now, so I will surely come back. All of us here lost our tribes. So you need not worry." Sagiri said, and Seya paused. Her heartbeat skyrocketed a bit before it steadied.

"What else did you want to say? You didn’t come all the way here just to pack my bags and kiss me goodbye..."

"I want to get in touch with The Iron Matron," Seya said. We need weapons.

"And you think the iron matron will just sell them to you. Just like any southerner, you know she is loyal to the South."

"I am buying, and she is selling. You are the chief of the south, she should sell weapons to you if you will it."

"Are you planning to use me to scare the woman? That will not work. Besides, we don’t have any money to buy her loyalty." Sagiri said.

"I know that. I have my ways." Seya said in a cold voice.

sagiri snapped his eyes open to find the gleesome look on Seya’s face.

"You plan on sticking her in an illusion?" Sagiri said, but he was not shocked in the slightest.

"She will kill you if she finds out," Sagiri said.

"You dare underestimate me?"

"I won’t dare. You do whatever you have to do. I trust your insight. Just don’t overdo it." Sagiri yawned. Seya was a capable chief, more capable than him when it came to ruling. He was just the name, and she held all the reins.

"Now leave. I want to sleep. Or do you need to watch me sleep?" Sagiri said, falling back on the mattress and sweeping his hand around to turn off the candles.

Seya walked out after a moment. When her presence was way across the small village, Sagiri sat up. He did not need to sleep anymore. He needed to go and come back before Seya caused too much trouble. With that, Sagiri sat up, dressed for the desert weather, and carried the bag Seya had packed for him. He just hoped there was nothing questionable inside.

He moved to the highest rock and looked at the village one more time before he jumped down. The desert stirred when he stepped deeper into it.

"You be nice to the village while I am gone." Sagiri whispered to the desert. He breathed in one more time before he tore south. Mina had given him the final map, and all he had to do now was follow it. The night wind was sharp and ate into his bones as he moved.

The desert stirred around him, pushing him to go farther. He was even faster in the desert. It was five hours before dawn, and he hoped he would be halfway through at this speed.