It was supposed to be a trip to the market. They were supposed to be at the market, not here, alone, on this dusty road.

His pace was all too familiar to her. His footsteps touched down with precision, kicking up next to no dirt even on this unstable path. His hands were tucked into the sleeves of his jacket, a sword slung across his back. She did not even have to glance at him to know this. Despite this familiar boy beside her, her nerves were not calmed. They were walking in the open, like a battlefield, anything could happen. She had to protect the Young Lord, but the sun was in her eyes and things were far too quiet, and why were they even out here?

"Young Lord-"

"Do you ever think about it? This?"

"Young Lord?"

"Do you ever think about the sun, the sky, the sand under our careful feet? How simple it all is? And we, just people. Just citizens. Our country is not well, but still the soil and sky carries on. It is not affected."

"I..."

"One day, I'm going to own Xing. I will, I'll be sure of it. But just me – just a person, just a citizen. Just me. And just you, too."

"I think it's time we returned, Young Lord."

He turned around without missing a beat. His voice, though, sounded slightly off when he said, "You know, if it's just you and me, it's okay to call me Ling."