His bare feet treading upon the edges of stones spanning nearly a handspan, he traversed the crimson earth and reached the entrance, which managed to remain damp despite the drought within. A single step later, he emerged from the Cave of Legacy, though an observer would assume he was emerging from the cave of the Water Element.
Mel had forgotten how many days had passed since he was abandoned in the forest to journey to the Outer Circle, but the sun stared him down as if commanding him to pull himself together and face the dawn of a new day. Following the arid and oppressive air of the cave, even the woodland reduced to ash by the widespread conflagration appeared pleasant to his eyes; he surveyed his surroundings to get his bearings and set off with long strides.
"And to think, I used to love the trees here!"
