Aftermath of Failure (1/2)

After the Forest Settlement Battle in the past.

The desert wind howled as Sett and Ismera stepped out of the A-tier Tomb, the pyramid's obsidian silhouette shimmering briefly before it sank back into the sand, leaving no trace of its existence. 

The Tomb Heart—a pulsing orb of black and gold—rested in Sett's pouch, a bittersweet prize that weighed on him, making his mood sour.

If he had won that challenge, he would have been in a completely different world now.

But… perhaps, Grandma's lessons were worth failing for.

Each of her words, the way she showed him his faults, the way she dominated the Tomb. The lessons about environmental awareness. Everything had truly embedded itself into Sett due to how emotionally charged the Tomb had been.

The sun dipped low, painting the dunes in shades of amber and dusk, the air thick with dust and the lingering heat of the day.