Your water supply had run out hours ago, the vast, endless expanse of the Sumeru desert stretched out in all directions, charring you like the petals of a withering flower.

You awoke to the feeling of cool, damp cloth against your forehead. Blinking against the harsh sunlight, you realized you were no longer lying on the searing sand but beneath a makeshift canopy. A small, gentle hand applied the cloth, and you turned your head to see a young boy, looking not a day past 17 at most, with dark skin and piercing, intelligent eyes.

"You're awake," he said, voice firm but not scolding, "You're lucky I found you when I did. Sumeru's desert has a way of eating those too inexpirened to navigate it." His name was Sethos- a desert dweller, he explained as he handed you a small, weathered flask.