Twisted Wonderland 2

Ages Ago

   After stepping through the mirror, you're immediately greeted with intense heat and a bright desert sun. Looking around, you see bright colors of flowers, silks, and street vendors. The buildings are made of limestone and clay. It reminds you of Scarabia's dorm.

   Kalim sighs. "It's so bright out! Feels good to be home."

   Jamil smiles. "Yeah, we haven't had much chance to come back before this."

   You spin around in a circle to take in the city. "So this is the Land of Scalding Sands."

   Kalim nods excitedly. "Yup! This is our home. Isn't it just full of energy and excitement?"

   Cater fans himself with his hand. "Whew, talk about sweltering! Definitely different than the weather on Sage's Island. I'm sweating already!"

   "Yeah. No kidding." You take Grim off your shoulders since his fluffy fur is only adding to the heat.

   "The temperature's hot, but you really need to watch out for the sun." Jamil informs. "Its rays are quite strong."

   "Yeah, I think I can actually feel the heat from the sunlight reflecting off these stone walkways." Cater wipes his brow. "Better make sure I got sunblock on at all times!"

   Trey nods. "Yeah, I should've worn a hat. Yeesh..."

   "The Scalding Sands is home to a vast desert and has a torrid climate." Jamil gestures to the vendors. "Most of the land sits on a peninsula facing the sea. You can find many affluent neighborhoods and resorts along the coast. This city is the center of the Scalding Sands. It's quite popular with tourists, both domestically and internationally."

   Malleus nods. "That would explain the throngs of people carrying around maps."

   "Probably guidebooks, yeah." Cater rolls his sleeves up. "And I gotta say, I'm slightly jelly of their short-sleeved shirts and shorts right now."

   Trey chuckles. "No kidding. We're the only ones wearing stuffy uniforms."

   "So, what's this city called?" Cater asks.

   "Silk City." Jamil answers.

   Kalim smiles brightly. "Jamil and I were born and raised here."

   "Oh, cool!" Cater pulls out his phone. "I read about this place in a guidebook. Its description was pretty spot on. All these white stone buildings are gorgeous! I gots to get a pic of 'em."

   Jamil nods. "Large amounts of wood were hard to come by in the olden days, so they made buildings using stone mined from quarries. Nowadays we have much better access to construction materials, but stone helps insulate against the heat, so the tradition remains."

   "I guess stonework houses are a hallmark of Scalding Sands architecture, huh." Trey gazes at the stone buildings.

   "They're so stylin', it's like I'm on a movie set!" Cater snaps various pictures.

   "We also have amazing food!" Kalim exclaims. "The seaside cities ship fresh seafood here every day through the canals. There's something for everyone, even the die-hard foodies! We've got tons of award-winning restaurants!"

   "Hey, check out this river!" Grim runs into the shade by the river, standing at the edge of the canal. "It's nice and cool over here!"

   Malleus tilts his head. "That must be one of the canals you mentioned."

   A canoe passes by through the canal, carrying a bunch of fruits. It splashes water onto Grim as it passes by.

   "Ooo! Some water splashed up!" Grim's eyes light up. "Are there fish in here?"