Eve of the Winter Solstice

The morning sun broke through the great veil of clouds and cascaded down in perfect harmony, bathing the world in sublime radiance like a divine wake-up call from the gods.

Tomorrow is the winter solstice, a day that heralds the Mirage Festival.

In the bustling heart of Merchants Lane, a vast procession of ships arrived from distant horizons. Their purpose extended beyond the mere offloading of cargo, for many vessels, upon reaching their designated positions, transformed into integral parts of the burgeoning marketplace. Cleverly designed hooks and locks adorned their hulls, facilitating their seamless integration into ad hoc commercial establishments. As the winds whispered through this maritime symphony, it was as if a divine hand had extended, gently plucking the ships along the waterfront like strings to create a harmonious melody.

This is the unique spectacle of Mirage City on the winter solstice, when the merchant ships become connected as one and the sea merges with the boundless blue sky.

"They haven't arrived yet?" Aldous scowled while checking the time. A gap had been left amid the vessels lined up next to him. One of the caravans had failed to make its scheduled appearance. A most peculiar situation, to say the least.

"They'll be passing through the desert, after all. Maybe they encountered a sandstorm?" Hushed speculations and intimations reached his ears, prompting the Guardian of Mirage City to turn his gaze in the direction of the desert. Beyond the towering mountain ranges, the cloud cover indeed bore an unexpectedly dark hue, veiled with a lingering mist that hung in the air, brooding and meandering as if harboring dangers yet to be unveiled.

Aldous extended his palm, revealing a Spirit Detector engraved with intricate, antique patterns. As he spoke, his voice did not waver in the slightest. "For caravans that journey year-round, crossing the desert has long ago become inconsequential."

The people beside him emit sighs of relief, but Aldous's heart grew heavier with each passing moment. Indeed, in the eyes of ordinary people, the forces of nature and their uncontrollable might were the most terrifying and daunting of all adversaries. They remained oblivious to the ever-present threat of the Void lurking in the shadows. However, in the past, the Heralds of the Void had never ventured beyond Mirage City, and all their schemes revolved around the Kirin Horn. This recent turmoil unfolding in the desert... Could it be their doing?

"The desert..." Aldous murmured, his gaze fixed on the Spirit Detector cradled in his hand. The intricate device remained still, giving no indication of disturbance. This ancient artifact, passed down through generations, came with a family decree: unless the device exhibited signs of an unusual disturbance, Aldous must never depart from Mirage City.

A lone migratory bird briefly fell out of formation, landing in front of Aldous. He gently cradled the bird in his hand before releasing it back into the open sky. If the opportunity ever arose... As the seabird unfurled its wings and soared into the vast heavens, a rush of indescribable thoughts welled up in Aldous's heart, only to be forcefully quelled. "When the device signals... Yes! One day, when the destined journey nears its end, my vision shall turn to far-off horizons." But today was not to be that day.

Aldous turned on his heel and addressed the deputy behind him, "Prepare an ample supply of Spirit Sand and dispatch a small reconnaissance team to the desert region. They are to rendezvous with the caravan and uncover the reasons behind the disturbances in the desert."

As if in response to his decree, the clouds over the desert horizon darkened further. An increasingly dense mist rose from the desert's surface, intertwining with the swirling golden sands and melding with the sky. Aldous' distant gaze was now obscured by the encroaching mist...

As the night slowly whittled the bonfire down to ash, the gray embers swirled in the desert breeze, mingling with the yellow sand. On the outskirts of the desert, the caravan, delayed in its arrival for the Mirage Festival celebration, continued its challenging and final trek.

"... Ever since Master Kasar's departure, Aldous's clan has faithfully upheld their promise to watch over Mirage City. Every winter solstice, Aldous, the current Guardian, will sound the Kirin Horn to offer blessings to all. It's our way of keeping the Kirin's memory alive," confided a woman within the caravan with a young girl beside her.

Nana, the young girl, encountered the caravan while traveling the desert alone, and was invited to join them.

As dusk approached, the caravan members showed genuine concern for Nana's whereabouts. They stressed the perils of traversing the desert alone after dark and offered to escort her home safely. The fading daylight reflected against the sandy landscape blurred everyone's sense of direction, making even the experienced caravan rely on their camels for guidance. However, Nana remained steadfast, pointing to a specific spot and asserting with confidence that her home was located there.

"It's ok, I'm just going home."

Nana had indeed been heading home all this time. From the day she was born, she had wandered for seven years. It was only through her occasional encounters with other people that Nana learned about things like home and family.

Things she never had.

Nana had acquired all her survival skills from others, learning to navigate life and adapt to the world around her. No one had ever told her what to do or not to do. When she was tired, she slept. When she was thirsty, she drank. When hunger struck, she foraged for food. Until one day, Nana felt something pulling within her, as if guiding her to some place.

"A family shares a unique connection. They're bound by blood," one of her chance companions once explained.

Nana took those words to heart and nodded. "I see."

And so, with a small bundle strapped to her back and resolute strides, Nana embarked on her journey, following the call within her heart.

"Wait..."

At some point, the morning sun's warm rays had been subsumed by a thickening layer of clouds, and the wind had grown more insistent. The desert sand was slowly being whipped up by the growing gusts, obscuring their path. The woman sensed something amiss and tried to reassure Nana. "Don't worry, Nana. We get these all the time in the desert."

She gestured towards the lead camel guiding the caravan. "Even if the mist thickens, the camels will know the way. We've weathered this for more than a decade."

Nana nodded. After all, this was her first venture into the desert. "There's no need to be worried," she thought to herself.

However, the mist grew thicker with each step, and the swirling sands became a tempest in the relentless wind, striking their faces and bodies with painful force. The camels, burdened with cargo, grew increasingly agitated. Even the lead camel, known for its calm demeanor and exceptional sense of direction, occasionally had to stop and get its baring.

Seemingly out of nowhere, massive chunks of sandstone swirled up into the air, forcing everyone to seek shelter. In front of Nana, the clouds had piled up and darkened to an almost pitch-black hue, threatening to collapse down upon them at any moment. The howling tempest, laden with swirling sand, spun wildly beneath the heavy-set clouds. The impenetrable mist, carried by the furious winds, rapidly reshaped the once featureless desert landscape. The old lead camel, who had always been the most cautious of the caravan, suddenly sank into the shifting sands, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Nana watched dumbfounded as the chaos unfolded before her eyes. In a frantic rush, the woman swiftly tucked her into an empty space within the iron cargo racks, providing momentary safety. Cries of panic and horror could be heard all around. Some tried to anchor themselves only to lose their strength, while others were swept away in an instant. Many were torn away by the ferocious winds, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

But just as the storm was about to engulf Nana, she saw specks of light emanating from the ground, coalescing into the form of Mist Beasts hovering in the air. The Mist Beasts began to move while looking back from time to time, as if beckoning Nana. For some strange reason, she felt compelled to follow them. As she ventured forth, the rest of the caravan, with nowhere else to go, followed suit.

Strangely, this path was untouched by the storm.

After what felt like an eternity, a refreshing breeze with the scent of the ocean washed over them. Nana snapped back to reality and noticed the surviving members of the caravan greedily inhaling the fresh air. They had managed to make it out of the storm. A strange sensation tugged at Nana's heart, as if something or someone was urgently calling out to her, and had been for a very long time. Her gaze drifted to the Kirin Tower in the city up ahead, where the skies were clear and the sea shimmered like sapphires.

Her destination was finally within reach. Two sets of eyes would meet in an encounter foretold by destiny; a pivotal moment woven into the threads of fate.