The sun beat down mercilessly on the endless expanse of sand, its scorching rays turning the desert into a sea of shimmering heat. 

Amidst the vast emptiness, Y/n trudged forward, her boots sinking into the soft grains. She adjusted the strap of her satchel containing her precious maps, squinting against the glaring sunlight as she scanned the horizon for any landmarks.

Y/n had been tasked by the Akademiya, more specifically their scribe Alhaitham, to update their maps on the entirety of Sumeru's desert. Alhaitham, in his cold tone, had very specifically stated, "I trust you'll find a way to report back. But allow me me make one thing clear- I will not be the one receiving your updates as it is above my pay grade. So, whether you succeed or fail, it doesn't concern me in the slightest."

To say that the cartographer had been pleased would be an understatement, Y/n thought she would die as those piercing green eyes of his bore holes into her head. Sure, he might have the charm of a prickly cactus, but there was something about him that made her forgive his bluntness. 

If her ego wasn't the size of the desert she was in, she might have considered botching the mission just for a chance to see him again. 

After all, she couldn't deny that the man was attractive.

Sweat trickled down her brow, mingling with the fine layer of sand that coated her skin, as she cursed under her breath at the relentless heat. Oh, how she longed for the cool shade of the rainforest right about now.

Y/n paused, shielding her eyes from the harsh light with one hand as she surveyed her surroundings.

The maps she had been given were a joke. Seriously, they looked like they belonged in a museum rather than in the hands of someone about to embark on a serious expedition. The ink was faded, the edges were frayed, and there were even a few suspicious-looking stains that she didn't even dare to think about where they came from.

With a sigh, she unfolded the ancient parchment, squinting at the barely legible markings. "Just think of the praise," she muttered to herself, "just think of the praise."

"I don't suppose you're talking to me?" A cheerful voice called out.

Y/n startled and spun around, coming face to face with a young man wearing a friendly smile. His emerald-green eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched her fumble to keep hold of her map.

"No," she huffed, annoyed at having been caught off guard, "I was just talking to myself."

"Ah, well, that's good to know," the young man said, his smile never wavering, "because I'm not sure what you'd want me to do about it. But if you're looking for company, I'm happy to oblige."

Y/n raised an eyebrow at his casual offer, wondering how such a carefree individual could possibly exist in a place like the desert. She wondered if he had taken one too many hits of naku weed or if the desert had finally driven him mad. "What rock did you pop out of?"

The young man laughed, his smile widening at her remark. "Ah, I see we've got a comedian on our hands," he said, shaking his head in amusement. "But no, I assure you, I'm quite sane. Well, as sane as one can be in this scorching wasteland."

"Sane enough to leave me alone?"

"Sane enough to enjoy the company of others," he countered, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Y/n sighed and turned away from him, not interested in whatever nonsense he was spewing.

"Lost are we?"

Y/n bristled at the implication, her pride wounded by the suggestion of incompetence. "I'm not lost," she retorted, her tone sharp with irritation. "I know exactly where I am."

The young man's eyebrows shot up at her outburst, and his smile became less playful. "Of course you do," he replied, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "But even the most skilled cartographer can find themselves turned around in these shifting sands."

"And who are you to presume I'm a cartographer?"

The young man gestured to the maps she had clutched tightly in her hands, her knuckles turning an abnormal color from the effort.

"It's not rocket science."

The h/c haired girl felt her cheeks grow hot as she resisted the urge to snap back at him.

"Well," she said after a moment, "if you're so confident in your navigational skills, perhaps you could be of some assistance."

"The very reason I was hired," he replied, the corner of his lips quirking upward in a sly smirk. "You're lucky, the best navigator around and the prettiest to boot. What did you say your name was again?"

"I didn't." She eyed him warily, taking in his ridiculous outfit and the bow slung casually over his shoulder. He had some... questionable fashion choices. "Aren't you a little overdressed for the desert? You look like a walking billboard."

The young man chuckled, running a hand through his messy brown hair. "I get that a lot," he said with a grin. "But what can I say, fashion is subjective."

Y/n couldn't help but roll her eyes at his response, resisting the urge to argue further. She had more pressing matters to attend to, like navigating through this sweltering wasteland without losing her sanity.

"Ah, keeping your name a mystery, I see," the young man remarked, oblivious to Y/n's silent appraisal of his outfit. "Well, no matter. I'll just have to come up with a fitting nickname for you."

Y/n sighed, resigned to the fact that she was stuck with this overconfident stranger for the time being. "Just stick to leading the way and try not to get us lost," she replied dryly, turning her attention back to the map in her hands.

"Oh, we won't get lost," he reassured her, his voice full of confidence. "I promise."

Y/n hoped his promises weren't just words, otherwise, she would be in a world of trouble.