The arid desert air still carried its characteristic dryness, and the golden sands stretched endlessly, shimmerih the relentless su, despite the unfiving enviro, it has ged far more than it already had.

  Patches of vibrant green now dotted the ndscape at regur intervals, creating a surreal trast against the dunes. Clusters of cultivated nd thrived, breaking the monotony of sand with rich, fertile soil imported from seabeds. Rows of crops—potatoes, onions, carrots, and other hardy vegetables—flourished under careful cultivation. Workers, light, breathable fabrics, moved diligently across the fields, some harvesting fully grown pnts while others plowed fresh furrows in preparation for the cycle of growth.

  The cityscape itself had transformed drastically. Rising from the sands were grand structures of brid t, blending Romanesque aesthetics with innovative architectural adaptations to withstand the desert’s harsh ditions. Large domes, desigo deflect heat ae indoor temperatures, ed many buildings. Intricately carved pilrs and arched doorways adorhe facades, lending the city an air of both antiquity and resilience.

  Apartment plexes of the same Romanesque style domihe skyliheir designs eg both the grandeur of old Herptian religious cities from the western ti and the practical iy of modern engineering. Uhe slow, painstaking stru of cities in the mainnd, Jo’s embrace of the power of steam-assisted maery, allowiire buildings to rise in a matter of weeks instead of years.

  Scaffolding surrounded inplete structures, where borers toiled to plete an intricate water distribution system. Elevated tanks—designed in the same dome-capped style as the city’s other structures—were being ected through a work of aqueducts and underground pipes. These innovations ensured a stable water supply, a lifeline in a region where every drop recious.

  From her fortable carriage, rolling smoothly over paved t roads, Ravenna gazed out at the breathtaking transformation.

  "Much progress has been made in just a month, huh…" she murmured to herself, leaning against the plush seat.

  It had been a full month since she st set foot in Jo City, having speime away in Ronin Towiating and other important tasks. The pce she had departed had been a city in its infancy, struggling against the odds, but the one before her now was something else entirely—a city that looks like it has been thriving for turies .

  The winds of ge had swept through Jo, and what had once been a mere outpost in the sands was now a rising stronghold.

  Marie walked briskly alongside members of the city’s militia, her boots tapping against the newly paved t roadsas she ducted her daily iions. It art of her routio observe the city’s progress firsthand, ensuring everything was running smoothly. As she sed the horizon, her eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.

  A carriage, elegant and sturdy, rolled past the city’s gates, its design unmistakable. Ravenna had returned.

  Marie’s heart leaped, and before she could stop herself, she broke into a sprint. Her brown curls bounced with each step as she raced towards the carriage, calling out in delight.

  “Master! You’re back!” she excimed, breathless yet brimming with enthusiasm.

  Ravenna, seated inside, noticed the familiar void waved a hand. “My, my… as eic as ever, huh?” she mused with a small smile before signaling the driver to halt. The carriage came to a smooth stop, and the door swung open.

  “Hop in,” Ravenna said, her expression warm. “I’d like to hear about everything that’s happened while I was away.”

  Marie’s face lit up. “Yes! Master!” she chirped, wasting no time as she climbed inside. She settled into the seat across from Ravenna, fidgeting with excitement.

  “Well,” she began, “I won’t be able to expin things in as much detail as Miss Aliiss Sarah, since I’m still learning, but I’ll do my best!”

  Ravenna crossed her legs aed her on her hand, watg the girl with an amused expression. “That’s exactly why I want to hear your report, Marie. Let’s see how much you’ve learned about the city’s affairs.”

  Marie nodded so aggressively that her short curls bounced, her eyes sparkling with determination.

  “Alright! So, the priests worked hard to finalize the architectural designs, and ohey did, the wht to it! Thanks to the steam engines, stru has been going faster thahe maes help crush stones into t, making the process so much easier.”

  She gnced up at Ravenna, eager to see her rea. The older woman gave her a small nod of approval, encio tinue.

  Marie beamed. “The steam engines also made it possible to use elevators to lift heavy materials, which means we need fewer workers for those tasks. Demolishing old structures is much easier too! So overall, stru is progressing way faster than expected.”

  Ravenna listened ily, impressed by Marie’s enthusiasm and uanding.

  “And what about the sves?” she asked, her tone shifting slightly.

  Marie’s excitement dimmed a little, but she quickly recovered. “Many have been w alongside the other borers. Some, after seeing how much the city has progressed, decided to stay and make a new life here.”

  She hesitated for a moment, then added in a softer voice, “But… a lot of them still chose to leave. Many wao return to their hometowns and rebuild their lives.” Her fingers fidgeted on her p. “I don’t know the exaumbers, though. That’s something Miss Alid Miss Sarah are in charge of, so…”

  Ravenna waved a hand dismissively. “That’s fine. I brought the lotus flowers from Ronin Town, so we’ll start breaking the servitude spells.” She met Marie’s gaze firmly. “Those who have earned enough for their travels will be set free first. Then, we’ll release those who chose to stay and ie into the city.”

  Marie nodded in uanding. “Uood, Master.”

  She straightened up, eager to add more. “Oh! Also, we mao house at least half of the city’s popution thanks to the apartment plexes. More buildings are under stru, so we’ll soon have enough space for the remaining people.”

  Ravenna smirked slightly, leaning ba her seat. “Good. It seems things have been progressing well.”

  Marie tapped her , trying to recall if she had fotten anything. Then, as if remembering something important, she gasped.

  “Ah! There’s one more thing—Miss Alice’s daughter, Mina, fell sick…”

  Ravenna’s rexed expression instantly vanished. Her body tensed, and her sharp eyes narrowed as she leaned forward.

  “What?!” she demanded, her voice ced with urgency.

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