Suddenly, Bethany's gaze landed beyond Oliver, directly at the newly repaired avenue. Her eyes widened, and she gasped, raising her arm high. "Seraphina!" she called out.

Perplexed by the unfamiliar name, Sarrah assumed Bethany was referring to her. "Wha—" Sarrah glanced at Bethany.

Bethany continued calling out, leaping from the ground. "Sophie!"

Sophia, hearing a name similar to hers, was taken aback. "Huh?"

     Oliver places his right palm over his heart, his face beaming with a glistening smile directed at Benjamin. With a graceful nod, he offers the king a light bow, closing his eyes in respect. Stepping away from Benjamin, Oliver turns aside and immediately spots two teenage girls approaching them.

     The first girl shimmers like the dunes under the blazing sunlight. Her eyes are as dark as charcoal, framed by ink-black, curly hair concealed beneath a thin scarf. Though she stands slim and tall, her attire cloaks her lean figure.

     A flowing, long cotton dress in soft hues, harmoniously paired with a beige-brown robe, conceals her feet and lends an air of mystery to her movements. She further obscures her figure with a waist scarf that drapes over her arms. Atop her head is a sandy-coloured scarf that covers her hair. The girl is none other than Seraphina.

     Walking alongside Seraphina is the other girl, a few inches shorter in stature. Her eyes are like the dark, starry night sky, and her skin is like a delicate almond. Her curly hair cascades like a puddle of coal, playfully dangling on her forehead like mischievous vines.

     The girl wears a garnet dress that flows above her ankles, exposing her black leather sandals. A tan-brown sash around her waist accentuates her slim figure, yet most of her frame is concealed with an open veil around her head. Around her neck is a sandy cloak that plays with the wind every time she steps forward. The girl is none other than Sophie, the sister of Seraphina.

As the two girls, Seraphina and Sophie, approached Bethany, they waved their hands and greeted her with welcoming smiles.

Oliver stepped forward and faced the two girls confidently. "Shalom aleichem!" he said.

Seraphina and Sophie's eyes widened, and their smiles grew even broader.

"...Aleichem shalom," Sophie responded bashfully.

Meanwhile, Seraphina lightly raised her palm and waved at Oliver.

"Wow! Epic!" Bethany complimented Oliver. "You know their greetings?"

"I studied," Oliver replied with a smile.

"It's amazing that you know how to say those while I don't," Bethany remarked, resting her eyes and grinning.

"Bethany?" Seraphina whispered curiously, gazing at the handsome man, Oliver. "...Is he your...?"

"Oh! No, no, no," Bethany quickly shook her hands, stepping back from Oliver.

"No, no—" Oliver backed away and held Gregory's hand.

"He's a friend," Bethany clarified. "And~" she gestured towards Oliver and Gregory holding hands.

Seraphina and Sophie gasped. "Woah..." they admired the men—as if they had never seen two men holding hands.

"I've never seen two men doing that here before," Sophie observed, peering at the intertwined hands.

"Oh, yeah!" Bethany began introducing the two girls. "Guys, this is Seraphina!" Bethany wrapped her arm around Seraphina, the girl in the white dress. "And this is Sophie," Bethany continued as she placed her other arm on Sophie, the girl in the red outfit. "They're my cousins!"

"It's nice meeting you, ladies," said Oliver.

"Hello there," Gregory smiled.

"Hi!" Sophia waved her hand, her face adorned with a pleasant grin.

"Yo," Sarrah chimed in with a smirk.

"Shal... home... alai... lay... alai... k-kem?" Edgar struggled with his words, causing the others to look at him, waiting for his statement.

"Shalom aleichem," Sophie waved at Edgar, offering a friendly response.

"Bethany, I had no idea you were coming here, let alone being friends with the Remaining Podeshire," Seraphina told Bethany.

"Oh, Oli suddenly had unexpected missions around the world, and we stumbled upon this place along the way," Bethany explained.

"'Oli'...?" Seraphina tilted her head, seeking clarification.

Sophie gently elbowed Seraphina on her arm. "Oli, short for Oliver, I assume. The Remaining Podeshire's first name is Oliver... I think," Sophie whispered.

"You got it right," Oliver interjected, glancing at Sophie.

Sophie smiled, looking down as her palms gripped onto each other. "Hehe..."

Seraphina then suggested, "Ooh! How about all of you visit our house for a moment and rest there?"

"Oli, do we have time?" Bethany asked.

"Well," Oliver answered. "If they insist, we can join them."

"We insist," Sophie stated, placing her palms on her chest.

"Let's go, then. Shall we?" Seraphina turned around and began striding away confidently.

     Seraphina and Sophie turned around and marched forward, walking ahead while the rest followed behind. As they ventured through the port, they entered the sprawling seaside city that left Oliver and his companions speechless. Their eyes darted around, captivated by the unfamiliar architecture that took their breath away.

     The houses are constructed from sandstone, blending in with the sandy ground. The buildings exhibit delightful asymmetry, and their design exudes sophistication, boasting grand doors with elegantly curled upper frames. Ordinary households feature flat roofs, providing a vantage point for rooftop views, while the larger establishments hold head-tilting domes atop their structures.

     Date palm trees lie in boxes along the streets, offering welcome shade from the scorching sun that sheds its unbearable heat. Other establishments opt for thatched roof linings on their sides, made of dried wheat, ensuring cold and dry side yards. However, the sunlight still filters through the coverings, creating an itchy warmth that forces most people to board up their wooden windows.

     The group continued their march, approaching a towering gate that marked the division between the town and the bustling seaside port. Passing through the colossal sandstone wall, they marvelled at the buildings gradually becoming more spacious and taller with each block. Soon, the structures reached towering heights, touching the clouds above and casting long shadows over the streets below.