Haapavetsi was lit well enough the Elementals didn't have trouble relocating the camel-seller on the outer rim of the town facing the desert. The robot merchant accepted their gold without intrigue, then referred to young Rovaneim boys to ready the camels.

It was very odd to see human boys still rubbing the sands of sleep out of their eyes to be ordered around like servants by a robot. Ry and Dyy were twins with their identical facial structures, height, and unruly, dirty-blond hair—styled in opposing directions.

They led the Elementals to the stables and quickly set to work, pulling out the stubborn animals and saddling them without complaint. An unsettled worry creased Zelenia's brow ever since the boys showed up.

"Ry, Dyy, are you okay here?" she gently asked.

"Of course!" Ry said. "Why wouldn't we be?"

"You're okay being bossed around by robots?" Helian asked, arms crossed.

"Ohhh! You must have never been to Kefalon before. A lot of people work for robots like RMW-801," Dyy said. He caught sight of Pica as he moved to another camel. "You're Rovaneim, you know."

Everyone looked at the Light Elemental. She shrugged. "It's not uncommon. Haapavetsi was settled by robots—they built it."

"But so young? Where are your parents? Do they work for him, too?" Helian asked as he turned back to the twins almost done.

"Helian—" Zelenia tried to stop him.

Ry and Dyy looked at each other, seeing which one wanted to answer. The air had stilled.

"They died," Dyy said.

"We would either be roaming Kefa's streets or be dead by now if we hadn't come here looking for a job," Ry said.

"It's tough working for RMW-801, but at least we get food and have a bed to sleep in," Dyy said as he led four camels out of the stables. His brother followed his lead by tugging the other four camels out by their reins.

Helian looked at Zelenia as they walked out. "Oops."

Ry and Dyy instructed them on how to mount the camels. Pica giggled at the sight of big Tegen straddling a camel, long legs dangling past the stirrups. Zelenia couldn't help but to giggle with her—it was a funny sight. Ry came up to further lengthen the stirrups for him.

With a final warning about the dangers in the desert and to watch out for Koquas, the twins waved vigorously as they watched them head into the Emeri.

***

The sun rising over the Emeri Desert was something to see. At first, the waking sun lit the sky in gentle, warm oranges, reds, and yellows. Then, when it ascended over the horizon, the desert brightened into sleepily rolling sand dunes. Now with more light, Zelenia looked for anything to see in the vast desert, but in any direction she turned, there wasn't one palm tree or cactus—everything was either the sand below or the sky above. Nor was there sound, other than the shifting of their saddles, plodding of the camels' feet into the sand, and Pica talking to Renuo.

The sun hadn't even raised high into the sky yet and the temperature rose a degree every second. Without much of a breeze, the air turned sweltering and uncomfortable. Zelenia was really glad now for the canteens Uncle Furs got and the light hood and sleeves he gave them. Even though the extra fabric made it hotter, it kept her porcelain skin from frying in the blistering sun.

She began to freely guzzle the water, but the twins' warnings about them drinking their water in moderation slowed her. If she drank it all now, she wouldn't have any left for when she got thirsty again. So, Zelenia sipped her water, then closed her canteen and put it back down. She saw the others struggling under the heat too—except for Geryon and Helian, who looked to be basking in the heat like a lizard on a hot rock, but he did reach for his canteen routinely.

With envy, she noticed neither Geryon nor Renuo had touched their water yet. Not only had Geryon declined Uncle Furs' canteen, but he had also refused the extra covering because he had his own—the red loose fabric that usually flowed long in the wind was now wrapped about his head and face, with enough left over to flutter in the petty breeze. He wasn't guzzling his water from being used to this brutal climate.

Renuo had the protective covering hiding his exposed skin, but as tanned as he was, he probably wouldn't be sunburned. He didn't touch his water from being the Water Elemental—he probably had an endless supply of internal water where he could never be in danger of dehydration.

This was worse than the trip over to Cesivana—at least they had a cooling breeze on the ashship. The movement on the camels supplied some changes in air, but it wasn't enough to keep them cool. And they weren't even far into it. Tegen estimated they would reach Nyan by the evening; Ibi was a day away after that.

"I thought adventures were supposed to be fun," Pica griped. "This isn't fun at all."

"Heat saps energy; you'll recover soon enough and be eager to go like nothing had happened," Geryon said.

"And then it'll be fun?"

"Perhaps."

***

A shimmering blot ahead caught their attention. Small pockets of light glowed from within, along with the fading sun shining its rays on it. Whatever it was was large enough to be dark in the steadily darkening sky.

"Tegen?" Zelenia asked.

"That should be Nyan," he answered.

Hearing the settlement named encouraged them to urge their camels faster. They were all ready to get off the smelly animals, eat, drink something cool, and rest.

Nyan was a settlement of nomads and desert dwellers living in a conglomeration of tents tied together. There were some solar panels to provide power, but there wasn't anything extravagant.

As the Moon, Sun, and Elementals approached, two dark-headed men in loose desert garb stepped out of a tent to stop them. One of them called back into the tent and three more dark-headed men stepped out.

The largest one caught Zelenia's reins. "Greetings travelers! Glad you reached here before nightfall; the Emeri isn't forgiving to those trapped without the sun."

"We're glad we made it too," Zelenia said as he helped her get down.

"Very glad," Helian said as he came around her camel after dismounting.

"Relieved!" Pica corrected as another man helped her down. When her feet touched the ground, she winced as she straightened up and rubbed her backside. "Ow. My butt really hurts!"

The large man shook his head ruefully. "I am Addo; come in to get some food and drink and to relax."

He didn't have to convince them to follow him. The other men took charge of the camels and led them off as the Elementals ducked into the tent he came out of. It wasn't extremely large, with only some chairs and cots on the ground—Zelenia assumed it was the watch-post. Addo didn't stop by ducking out of another flap.

They followed him out into the center of Nyan: entirely closed in by colorful tents, multiple low tables set on rugs and cushions as seats occupied the center, and fabrics of varying textures and colors overlapped each other roped together acted as a roof, but the night sky could be seen through gaps. Hanging above the tables were multiple soft-glowing lamps providing the ample light. Quite a number of people already occupied the tables, laughing and eating dinner; Addo headed toward them.

"Join us! Join us!" he said as he waved for them to take a seat. He folded down beside a middle-aged woman with a long braid of brown hair. To her right were two dark-headed boys, obvious brothers with similar features, but years separated them.

The Sun, Moon, and Elementals didn't feel for a second that they were intruding as they each staked a spot at the table. Zelenia sat beside Addo, with Helian on the other side of her.

Addo gestured at the food, encouraging them to take their fill. Pica had no hesitation in snagging some bread, meat, and fruit; a goblet of wine was passed to her, and she drank deeply. Kalisa shook her head at her eagerness.

"This is my wife Valeen and our sons, Sindar and Sinpar," Addo introduced, then turned back to them. "Now, may I ask what brings such young faces out to venture the Emeri?"

Zelenia pulled down the fabric wrapped around her head. "Well..."

Addo's eyes brightened in recognition. "Oh! Our Lady Moon!" He looked at each one of them. "What a privilege it is in assisting the newest Elementals! So, the quest of the Elementals has pulled you to the Emeri, has it?"

Zelenia nodded and looked at Pica, happily munching away. "Light was shown her temple lies in Ibi."

Across from them, Renuo leaned up. "There's not a chance that it could still be here, right? Like, it's kinda hidden in the sands instead of being destroyed three thousand years ago?"

Addo chuckled as he shook his head. "No can do."

Renuo grunted as he moved back and refocused on his food.

Zelenia looked at him. "Ibi will be there. Have faith that Pica is being led."

"Yeah, Ibi's there," Helian agreed after swallowing. "We've been pulled out here for a reason, and that's got to be it."

Conversation stopped for a while as they focused on eating. "So where was she shown that Ibi is?" Addo asked.

"We're not exactly sure of its location, but about 25 leagues northwest of here," Zelenia answered.

Addo's dark eyebrows rose. "25 leagues? You still have quite a way to go. You'll have to leave before sunrise in hopes of reaching there before nightfall." The big man thought about something, then rose. "I'll go ensure that your rooms are prepared so you can retire early." He walked off to one of the larger tents and disappeared behind the flap.

Zelenia ate her fill and once she finally drank enough to quench her thirst completely, she admired the peeks of the night sky above her. Even though the moon wasn't present at the time, the sky was lighted with millions and millions of stars.

An explosion of laughter brought her attention back down to the Elementals. Pica and Helian provided the entertainment with various jokes that had the table and the Nyanians leaning in peeling into laughter. Renuo joined in by adding his own jokes or comments, temporarily forgetting about his worry for tomorrow. They were surely enjoying themselves.

Aeris would listen in and give a small smile when everyone peeled into laughter, but she was still quiet and mainly distant. Zelenia worried about her—it wasn't just Heela's death bothering her, something else was too.

Addo reappeared at her side just as she yawned. "Your bedding is ready whenever you wish to call it a night."

Zelenia wasn't just tired, but the sun had sapped her energy, just as Geryon had said. "I think I am." She looked at the others in question.

"I think that's a good idea too," Helian said as he rose. Pica tried to hide a big yawn behind a hand. "We do have another early start tomorrow."

Addo nodded wordlessly and turned to lead them to their tent. The large tent he had slipped into was their inn for travelers with many cots and colorful rugs protected feet from dirt and sand; sheets of fabric split the room evenly—one side for men, the other for women. The same lamps from outside lit the sides in soft glows, enough to allow sight, but not harsh enough to disturb sleep.

"Ladies, you have this side," Addo instructed by gesturing to the left. "Gentlemen, you have the right. Don't hesitate if you need to get up during the night for anything. We have guards patrolling Nyan, so you will be able to find someone awake to help you. I hope you have a restful sleep."

"Thank you, Addo," Zelenia said as she waited at the flap while the others dispersed to their designated sides to claim a bed.

Addo bowed. "Til the morning; goodnight." He left through the flap.

Zelenia said goodnight to an equally sleepy-looking Helian before moving to her side. It looked like Pica had just chosen the nearest cot and collapsed on it, already lost in sleep. Kalisa had chosen a cot near to her and was preparing for bed by taking off her shoes. Aeris had chosen the cot furthest in the corner, her back to them.

Zelenia tiptoed past Pica and chose a cot between Kalisa's and Aeris'. She wished she could sleep under the night sky, but once she sunk into the comfortable bedding, that thought was quickly dismissed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.