Han found himself in a dream.
It was a strange one, an unsettling, almost suffocating kind of dream, where he couldn't open his eyes no matter how hard he willed them to. He lay motionless on a cold, unyielding ground, his eyelids refusing to obey even as his desire to see clawed at him. Then, through that oppressive stillness, came a sound. Footsteps. Slow and deliberate, drawing closer from the side.
Han's eyelids twitched, a faint flutter that betrayed his struggle to pry them open. But they remained stubbornly shut. The footsteps stopped right next to him. He could feel the presence now. It was strangely familiar, as if dredged up from the deepest recesses of his memory.
"Oh? Asleep, are we?" A man's voice teased, followed by a low, amused chuckle. "Now this is a rare sight… maybe I should take a picture... You know that you can't keep napping, right?"
The voice cracked, splintering into static, as if ripping straight through the fabric of the dream.
"…you really need to wake up, ■■■■—"
Han's eyes flew open, and he gasped.
He was awake. No longer trapped in that strange dream.
The coarse texture of sand pressed against his palms. Han lay on the dunes of the Echorift, staring up at the sky, his mind blank for a long, silent stretch. The hazy yellow that once dominated the heavens had been replaced by a dark, storm-choked gloom. Faint, eerie streaks of light flashed through the sky like distant, unholy lightning. Even the air was colder now, carrying a biting hostility, as if the Ashdune Vale itself was baring its teeth at every intruder who dared step into its domain.
It was only after several moments of staring that memory returned.
Panic struck him like a fist to the chest. The image of Seraya, the chaos, and the violent current that tore them apart surged back into his mind. Heart pounding, Han shot upright and scanned his surroundings.
To his surprise, he wasn't lying on some desolate patch of wilderness. Instead, he was in a small, hastily-made camp. A campfire crackled nearby, its warmth chasing away the chill. Han blinked at the sight, taken aback.
Alwyn and Erika… they had been blown in a different direction. So how…? Did they find him while he was unconscious?
The thought made his ears burn faintly. Erika would definitely make fun of him for this, for getting knocked out and having to be rescued.
"Han… are you okay?"
The familiar, crystalline voice of Evara broke through his thoughts.
Han blinked again, then let out a small, sheepish laugh as he reached into his pocket. Right, Evara. He'd almost forgotten that his tiny companion had been with him the whole time. During the attack, he'd tucked the small gem safely away to protect them. Thankfully, it hadn't rolled off and vanished into the void while he was being tossed around.
"Evara! You're safe. That's a relief," Han said, cradling the gem in his hand. "Sorry I was out for a while. What happened while I was asleep?"
"After Seraya…" Evara's voice faltered for a moment at the mention of their old friend but soon steadied. "Well, somehow, you survived being blown away. I did my best to keep watch, but…" They gave a rueful little hum. "I'm just a shard like this. We ended up stranded on another floating island. At first, everything was quiet… until some roaming beasts caught your scent. Before they could tear you apart, someone found you."
Han frowned. "Who?"
If it were Alwyn or Erika, Evara would've said so without hesitation.
"It's…" Evara hesitated.
"It was me," a calm, cool voice interjected.
Han stiffened and whipped around.
He hadn't sensed anyone else.
Standing there was a young man dressed in black, his posture relaxed but his presence sharp enough to cut through the air. Dark hair framed a pale face, and his amethyst eyes regarded Han with quiet detachment.
Wei Xinyan.
"You saved me? Why?" Han asked, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't sure how to regard this young man. On one hand, Wei Xinyan was supposedly an old friend of Alwyn. On the other hand, he had attacked them before. Even if it was under orders, that didn't erase the fact that he had still been their enemy.
"I'd suggest we avoid fighting," Wei Xinyan replied evenly. "We're separated from the others. Wasting energy and risking injuries by turning on each other would be foolish."
"And why should I believe you won't stab me in the back?" Han shot back.
"I saved you, didn't I?" Wei Xinyan countered.
Han frowned. Indeed, if Wei Xinyan had wanted him dead, he could have easily done it while Han was unconscious and vulnerable. Yet that didn't make his suspicion disappear.
When Han continued glaring at him, Wei Xinyan let out a quiet sigh. "I'm not going to force you to work with me. If you can't stand the sight of me, you're free to leave and go on your own."
With that, Wei Xinyan sat down across from him, pulling some dry rations from his spatial pouch and eating without another word.
The sound of chewing only made Han's stomach growl in protest, loud enough to betray him. Heat rushed to his face when Wei Xinyan glanced at him. Quickly, Han rummaged through his pouch and pulled out one of his own rations: a sandwich they had bought back in the city before entering the rift. It was cold now, and the bread wasn't exactly fresh. Still, as he bit down, it was nothing compared to the hard, near-inedible block Wei Xinyan was chewing.
Han frowned. He didn't know if it was pity or annoyance that welled up, but watching Wei Xinyan gnaw on that stale bread was unbearable. He had brought plenty of sandwiches; it wasn't as though he'd starve if he gave one away. Yet… he was an enemy. Feeding an enemy was ridiculous.
But when Wei Xinyan blankly took another bite of that rock-like bread, Han's resolve broke.
Without a word, he pulled out another sandwich and tossed it over. Wei Xinyan caught it easily, his brow arching as he examined the wrapped food, then shot Han a questioning look.
"That's payment," Han muttered, looking away. "For helping me when I was out cold."
The silence stretched. Just as Han began to think Wei Xinyan would refuse, the man unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.
The two ate in silence. Neither spoke, neither knew what to say, and neither was close enough to the other to bother trying.
When they finished, Wei Xinyan finally broke the quiet. "While you were unconscious, I scouted the area. There doesn't seem to be any immediate danger, but I'm not sure where we ended up after that beast scattered us."
"I wonder why they attacked us like that…" Han muttered. "They seemed… angry." Was it because of those strange armors embedded into Seraya's flesh? They looked painful. And yet, they had appeared so suddenly…
"Who knows," Wei Xinyan replied flatly. "Either way, we should start moving. I'm certain we're in the inner region of Ashdune Vale. Do you still have your Aerie Marble?"
"Yeah," Han answered.
"You might be able to use it to find the path back to the rift's entrance. It won't take you all the way, but it should be faster than walking."
"And what about you?" Han asked, narrowing his eyes again. "I doubt you'd abandon that master of yours."
Wei Xinyan stared at him for a moment, then turned away without answering and started walking.
The weather in Ashdune Vale was worsening. Bitter winds cut through the air, cold enough to sink into bone. Even an inexperienced explorer would know staying in the Echorift for long would be dangerous. Unfortunately, Wei Xinyan didn't have the freedom to leave without permission.
Before he could sink too deeply into his thoughts, footsteps approached from behind. Without even glancing back, he knew who it was.
"Why are you following me?" Wei Xinyan asked.
"I'm keeping an eye on you," Han said, almost self-righteously. "Who knows what kind of trouble you might cause."
Wei Xinyan shot him a look of pure exasperation. Was this really something Han thought was appropriate to say aloud? And if he truly had ill intentions, did Han really think simply following him around would stop him?
He sighed inwardly, wondering how someone with a temperament like this had ever become Jiang Ruhua's friend.
"Do whatever you want," Wei Xinyan said at last.
Han smiled smugly, as if he had just won a silent argument, and kept following Wei Xinyan. The two of them walked across the vast dunes, their boots disturbing the ancient sand with every step. Thankfully, they hadn't encountered any enemies so far, but they also hadn't found anything that could help them move forward.
Han had always relied on Alwyn to navigate the Echorift. Wei Xinyan, meanwhile, didn't possess the boat artifact needed to travel between the floating islands. Worst case scenario, they would have to use the Aerie Marble, though that was something Han would rather save as a last resort.
As they continued their trek, boredom finally got the better of Han. Curiosity pushed past his restraint.
"That guy said you're Alwyn's old friend," Han said. "How did you two meet?"
Wei Xinyan didn't answer right away, caught off guard by the question. Then again, judging from Han's temperament, he seemed like the kind of person who would pry into anything.
"...Nothing special," Wei Xinyan finally said. "We ran into each other by chance. We lived in the same city, after all."
"Oh. Did you two get along?" Han pressed.
"Who knows. You'll have to ask Ruhua about that," Wei Xinyan replied. After a brief pause, he added quietly, "Though… I was always the one following behind him."
Han blinked, staring at the back of Wei Xinyan's head. He couldn't see his face, but the tone of his voice gave him enough to work with.
"…He left you, didn't he?" Han asked. "Is that why you're angry with him?"
Wei Xinyan didn't respond. He simply kept walking, his pace steady and unreadable. Han didn't push further, though his curiosity burned even stronger now.
Eventually, they climbed another tall dune. As they reached the peak, Wei Xinyan suddenly stopped and pointed down.
"There," he said. "Ruins."
Han followed his gaze. The ruins didn't look promising, but it was better than aimlessly wandering the desert. At the very least, it could serve as a temporary shelter.
They split up and began exploring. Han entered several crumbling buildings, each one more dilapidated than the last. Dusty halls, collapsed furniture, and useless scraps were all he found. None of it would help them escape the floating island or locate the others.
Just as he was about to give up, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"I might be able to help," Evara said.
Han's eyes lit up. "You can?"
"Um… I can't promise anything," Evara admitted, "but I'll do my best."
Following Evara's guidance, Han searched the ruins for a large structure with an open entrance. After some time, he discovered one near the edge of the ruins. Unfortunately, its massive door was sealed shut. Han was about to try brute force when the gem in his hand began to glow.
A shimmering figure emerged from the light, Evara, faint and ghost-like, as if projected from another world.
Han stared, wide-eyed.
Evara smiled softly. "Watching those echoes helped me pull myself together, at least a little. I can't stay in this form for long, though."
They turned to the door, pressing their hand against its surface. Glowing lines and runes spread outward like veins of light.
"Hmm… old security," Evara murmured with closed eyes. "But I suppose that's why it lasted this long. Alright, this should do."
A deep rumble shook the ground, and the door slowly opened, revealing a workshop-like chamber inside. Workbenches and scattered tools filled the room. Evara walked forward with purpose, heading straight to the deeper section of the building.
There, they uncovered various mechanical parts, components for the floating vehicle Han had seen in one of the echoes back in the city. His eyes widened as he watched Evara move deftly, assembling piece after piece.
Before long, Wei Xinyan entered the building, empty-handed from his own search. He didn't say a word or ask who Evara was. He simply watched in silence.
Half an hour later, Evara clapped their hands together with a triumphant smile. "It's done!"