A desperate plea for help reaches the Traveler’s ears—an entire village on the outskirts of the Great Red Sand has been burned to the ground overnight, its people missing, its future uncertain. With tensions rising in Sumeru’s deserts, fingers are already being pointed at bandits, mercenaries, and corrupt nobles alike. But before the Traveler can even set out to investigate, a familiar voice calls out from the shadows.

"You shouldn’t go alone."

Emerging from the dim light of a lantern, Dehya stands with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. Unlike her usual easygoing self, tonight, there is no teasing smirk, no casual bravado—just quiet resolve.

"This isn't just another raid. Whoever did this… they’re sending a message."

The journey into the desert is harsh, the heat relentless, but the tension between them is colder than the night winds. Dehya, normally so open, keeps her thoughts guarded. Something about this attack strikes too close to home. The deeper they tread into the dunes, the clearer it becomes—this isn’t just another job for her. It’s personal.

What they find in the ruins of the village is worse than expected. Signs of a struggle, scattered belongings left behind in haste, and scorch marks that don’t belong to any normal fire. Someone wanted to erase this place from existence.

Before the Traveler can process the scene, movement flickers in the distance. A trap. Armed figures emerge from the ruins, their leader stepping forward with an eerie confidence.

"The Flame-Mane finally returns to the ashes she left behind," he sneers.

The truth slams into the Traveler like a sandstorm—Dehya knows these people. And they know her.

As the battle erupts beneath the blood-red sky, Dehya fights like a woman reclaiming her past—fists striking with the force of a wildfire, every movement a reckoning. But even after the last enemy falls, the weight in her eyes remains.

"I swore I’d protect people like them," she murmurs, staring at the smoldering ruins. "And yet, here we are again."...