As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the duhe siblings spotted the oasis on the horizon.

  "Look, there's water!" Dimitra excimed, her eyes lighting up iement.

  They urged Draco to speed the horses onward, their pace quiing as they he life-givie.

  Upon reag the oasis, they gratefully dismounted, jumping into the cool, refreshing water and allowing the horses to drink their fill.

  The siblings took a moment to rest and recharge, their bodies ag from the arduous journey.

  Draco checked the map, relieved to see they were still on the right track, with only aimated time of 5 days of travel left before they exited the desert.

  As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, the siblings settled down around a small campfire, sharing a simple meal of dried provisions.

  The gentle rustling of the palm trees and the soothing sound of the water lulled them into a mueeded respite.

  Cir sidled up to Michalis, her expression softening.

  "Thank you for supp me earlier," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Michalis felt his heart skip a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks.

  "It-it was nothing. I just thought that, what you said was right," he stammered, his tail twitg nervously.

  The other boys, having noticed the iion, rolled their eyes and turned away, muttering uheir breath.

  Draco cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

  "We've made goress today, but we still have a ways to go. Please be careful of snakes, scorpion and other poisonous bugs while you sleep. The dragon scales won’t keep them away," he said, his toern but ced with .

  The siblings nodded in agreement, the girls a bit spooked at the mention of snakes and bugs.

  As they settled in for the night, the sound of the crag fire and the distant howls of desert creatures filled the air.

  Having endured something simir for the past 4 years living in a forest, it wasn’t a problem for them.

  The day, the siblings set out again feeling refreshed, their faces shielded from the sun by their desert attire.

  The terrain tio test their resolve, with shifting sands and the occasional sandstorm adding to their difficulties.

  At one point, they spotted a herd of strange, camel-like creatures in the distaheir long necks and humped backs a peculiar sight.

  Michalis, Nikoos and Vasileios couldn't resist their urge to approach them, their curiosity piqued, much to the dismay of the girls.

  Draco didn’t bother stopping them as he already determihat the creatures were harmless.

  "You boys, get back here!" Cir called out, her voice ced with .

  "We don't know if those things are safe!" she said.

  Michalis, uerred, reached out a hand, hoping to make tact with the curious creatures.

  To the girls surprise, the camels seemed uurbed by his presence, and one even allowed him to gently stroke its neck.

  "See, they're friendly!" Michalis excimed, a wide grin spreading across his fabsp;

  The other siblings, relieved that no harm had e to their brother, approached the herd with a newfound sense of wonder.

  As they tiheir jourhe desert ndscape began to ge, with t roations and sparse vegetation dotting the horizon.

  The end of their desert experience was in sight.

  ………………………………………..

  A month ter...

  It had been around a month sihe siblings had exited the desert.

  They had passed through several other pces, keeping a low profile as they jourowards Orario.

  "Are we there yet?" Michalis asked, boredom g his voice.

  They had been traveling on minor roads for a while now, and there was nothing to do.

  "We will soon reach the main road leading to Orario, so just py some checkers or something," Draco replied, his eyes focused on the map in his hands.

  "Ugh, we've been pying that for 4 years now," Michalis pined, his tail swishing bad forth in frustration.

  Draco let out a sigh, "Theertain yourself with something else." he replied, shifting his attention back to the road.

  "Michalis, behave yourself and stop distrag Draco," Cir scolded, chiding him with a light tap on the head.

  "Hmph," Michalis scoffed, folding himself into a ball, a small smile pying on his lips.

  His ears twitched and his tail swayed occasionally, a sure sign that he was enjoying the attention from Cir, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

  The others simply ignored him, knowing that he was always like this around Cir.

  A few hours ter……..

  They finally reached the main road, which was surrounded by grassnd covered in a light b of snow all around.

  The surrounding area was a mix of grass pins, hills, and forests.

  "We're close," Draurmured, his eyes sing the horizon.

  The bored siblings perked up, their ears pig up on his words.

  Leading the horses up a hill and then stopping, they were greeted with a spectacur view of the city.

  "Whoa, is that Orario?" Vasileios said, his eyes wide with awe.

  Cir, Michalis, Eleni, Nikoos, Dimitra, Vasileios, and Vasiliki all left the carriage, climbing to the highest point of the hill to get a better look.

  Draco watched as they marveled at the sight before them.

  The city was a magnifit sight, surrounded by strong, a-looking walls.

  It was extremely rge in size, and the iic Tower of Babel stood ridiculously tall in the ter.

  Looking down towards one of the city gates, Draco could see aremely long line of people waiting to ehe city, with more joining the queue despite the cold.

  'We should probably join the line now. Don't want to camp outside the walls,' Draco thought, his brow furrowing slightly.

  "Everyone, get ba the carriage!" Draco called out, snapping the siblings from their stupor.

  He could uand their excitement; it was their first time seeing a city se.

  'Hopefully, they still remember all I warhem about,' Draco thought as he watched them board the carriage.

  Orario might look beautiful now, but they wouldn't think so anymore after experieng life iy.

  As soon as everyone was aboard, Draco directed the horses towards the city gates.

  Dimitra and Cir quickly cimed the top of the carriage for themselves, much to the dissatisfa of the others.

  "I call dibs on the fro!" Michalis excimed, scrambling to cim the best spot beside Draco for himself.

  Nikoos rolled his eyes. "As if, you always try to hog the good seats. I'm sitting there this time." he said.

  The two boys began to bicker, their voices rising with each passing moment.

  Eleni and Vasiliki tried to mediate, while Vasileios watched the exge with amusement.

  Draco sighed, his headache already beginning to build.

  "Quiet, all of you! We're approag the gates, and I o focus." he yelled.

  The siblings fell silent, but the air was thick with anticipation and nervous energy.

  Draco could feel their excitement and apprehension as they he imposing city walls.

  As they joihe queue, Draco took a moment to survey the se.

  The liretched on for what seemed like miles, with people from all walks of life waiting patiently to ehe city.

  Merts, travelers, adventurers, and many different races could be seen among the crowd.

  "Remember, once we're iay close to me and don't wander off," Draco said, his voice stern.

  "Orario be a dangerous pce, especially for newers." he whispered to them.

  The siblings heir faces serious. They had heard Draco's warnings about the city's perils, and they knew better than to disregard them.

  "I wonder what kind of adventures await us in Orario," Vasileios mused, his eyes filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

  Draustered a reassuring smile.

  "I'm sure there will be plenty of excitement, but we o be cautious and stay vigint. This city be both a blessing and a curse." he replied.

  As they inched closer to the gates, the siblings fell silent, their gazes fixed o walls and the bustling activity beyond.

  The lio ehe city crawled forward at a painfully slow pace, and the siblings grew restless.