A quiet journey through the sands finds me before an ancient, magical monolith that glows with a comfortable, warm light. It casts gentle shadows over the cold sands of this desert and reminds me of something quite dear to me. This location would dwell in my memories from this moment on, as a testament to a fundamental emotion that endures time.

This is another musically inspired piece! This time a little different from the usual type of singular influence, but ultimately more unique and meaningful for it.

This one is by none other than  leilryu! She absolutely nailed what she set out to do and I cannot possibly be more happy about it.
There were two songs that served as an influence here, as well as a little bit of the songs' artist herself, Loreena McKennitt.
Loreena remains my favorite musician to this day and all her works speak of love to one degree or another, be it romantic love or a love of life, or even the loss of it.

The Mystic's Dream by Loreena McKennitt from the album The Mask And The Mirror

A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon;
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn.
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones;
It's there that my heart is calling
All for the love of you.
A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss.
The eyes declare a truce of trust
And then it draws me far away.
Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky,
When darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call me home.
And so it's there my homage's due,
Clutched by the still of the night,
And now I feel you move;
Every breath is full.
So it's there my homage's due,
Clutched by the still of the night.
Even the distance feels so near,
All for the love of you.

Caravanserai by Loreena McKennitt From the album An Ancient Muse which lent its colors to the piece.

This glancing life is like a morning star
A setting sun, or rolling waves at sea
A gentle breeze or lightning in a storm
A dancing dream of all eternity
The sand was shimmering in the morning light
And dancing off the dunes so far away
The night held music so sweet, so long
And there we lay until the break of day
We woke that morning at the onward call
Our camels bridled up, our howdahs full
The sun was rising in the eastern sky
Just as we set out to the desert's cry
Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
The tents grew smaller as we rode away
On earth that tells of many passing days
The months of peace and all the years of war
The lives of love and all the lives of fears
Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
We crossed the river beds all etched in stone
And up the mighty mountains ever known
Beyond the valleys in the searing heat
Until we reached the caravanserai
Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you
What is this life that pulls me far away
What is that home where we cannot reside
What is that quest that pulls me onward
My heart is full when you are by my side
Calling, yearning, pulling, home to you