As they stepped out into the morning sun, Kairo clenched his fists.
He was still the prince of the Aqua tribe. His mission hadn't changed.
But until then...
He would guide her, just like she had asked.
For now.
_ _ _
The sun hung low over the desert, casting long, golden shadows as Kairo stood outside the small stone house, his back to the bandits still gathered inside. Yuki gently adjusted the simple cloth over her shoulders, her fingers lightly brushing the fabric as though reassuring herself of her surroundings.
The bandit leader, the one with the scar on his cheek, finally spoke up, his voice gruff yet hesitant. "We're staying here," he said.
Kairo didn't turn around. "What?"
Another bandit stepped forward. "We... we thought about what she said. Maybe we can't fix what we've done, but running away won't help either. We're staying."
Kairo's jaw tightened. He could feel Yuki's soft smile before he even glanced her way.
"I'm glad," Yuki said softly. "The first step is always the hardest."
Kairo's fingers twitched, his usual cold exterior threatening to crack. "Do whatever you want," he muttered. "Just stay out of my way."
The bandits exchanged uneasy looks but didn't argue.
Kairo finally turned to Yuki, his blue hair catching the desert wind. "We're leaving."
Yuki took a step forward, holding out her hand in the empty air between them. She didn't need to say anything — she trusted he'd take it, and after a long pause, he did. His grip was firm but careful, as if still unsure why he kept doing this.
Without another word, they set off into the vast desert, the bandits watching them until they disappeared over the dunes.
The journey was slow. Yuki's blindness meant their pace was steady but cautious, each step guided by Kairo's silent direction. He would sometimes tighten his hold on her hand whenever the sand grew unstable or the wind threatened to push her off balance.
After a while, Yuki broke the silence.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"For what?" Kairo asked, his voice a little harsher than intended.
"For guiding me," she replied. "For not letting me fall."
Kairo's jaw clenched. "I'm not doing this for you," he said, though it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than her. "I told you — I'm here to see if your precious Sand tribe is really as kind as you think."
Yuki only smiled, unfazed. "Even if you say that, I know you're still holding my hand."
Kairo didn't respond.
Hours passed, and the next district slowly came into view — an expanse of small sandstone homes scattered across the golden dunes, with tall rock formations towering over the village like silent guardians. Unlike the last village, this one seemed larger, more structured, with stone paths and small markets.
Kairo's grip tightened instinctively around Yuki's hand.
"What do you feel?" Yuki asked softly, sensing the shift in his mood.
"Nothing," Kairo said, his voice calm, but his ocean-blue eyes scanned the village like a predator sizing up its prey.
They walked into the heart of the district, drawing a few cautious glances. The people here were clearly Sand tribe — the same golden hair, the same tan skin. Some of them paused their work, watching the strangers with subtle wariness.
Kairo didn't miss the way some whispered behind their hands, eyeing Yuki with a mix of pity and disinterest — another blind woman in a strict society, already written off.
His jaw tightened.
A young boy ran past them, nearly crashing into Yuki. She stumbled slightly, but Kairo caught her by the waist before she could fall.
The boy's mother, a middle-aged Sand tribe woman, rushed forward and grabbed the boy by the arm. "I'm so sorry," she said, but her gaze didn't meet Yuki's — it was fixed on Kairo, taking in his striking appearance and the way he held the blind girl.
"Is... she your wife?" the woman asked hesitantly.
Kairo stiffened. "No."
Yuki, however, smiled softly. "He's my guide."
The woman blinked in surprise but didn't push further. She simply gave Yuki a brief nod — more out of politeness than genuine interest — and walked away with her son, whispering something to him about "not getting in the way of the broken ones."
Kairo's anger flared again.
Yuki gently tugged at his hand. "Let it go," she whispered, her voice calm. "I told you — they're not bad people."
Kairo's teeth clenched. "They didn't even look at you."
Yuki's smile didn't fade. "Maybe they will... in time."
Kairo didn't understand her endless patience, but he didn't argue.
He would give this village a chance — but if he found even the smallest reason to doubt Yuki's faith in them...
He would drown every inch of it.
For now, the prince of the Aqua tribe and the blind girl of the Sand tribe walked further into the village — one searching for a reason to destroy, the other hoping for a reason to forgive.