Chapter 109

The next day, Ariel, who had slept at the inn, woke up early and headed to the village entrance with her camel, Sahara.

Though the sun hadn’t risen yet, Ariel was eager to start crossing the desert as soon as possible.

“…Ugh, sis, isn’t this way too early?”

Roo, slumped on Ariel’s shoulder, muttered.

Last night, Roo had drunk some of Sandspur’s specialty fruit wine.

She couldn’t remember how much she drank, but judging by how dizzy she felt even after consuming a lot of recovery powder, it seemed she had overdone it.

“Even if we go now, that guide guy from yesterday probably isn’t…”

“Hey!”

At that moment, Kasim waved his hand from ahead.

“You’re early! Haha, impressive. Well, diligence is essential when crossing the harsh desert. I was a bit worried about a kid like you, but it seems you’ll be able to cross the desert without any issues.”

Ariel smiled slightly at Kasim’s words, though it was hidden under her turban.

“Shall we get started then?”

“Yes.”

Ariel mounted her camel, Sahara, and Kasim got on his own camel.

On Sahara’s head was the dragon doll, Sparki.

Normally, Sparki would fly around using telekinesis, but in case of a sandstorm, Ariel had tied it securely with a string to avoid losing it.

Ariel thought the dragon doll on the camel’s head looked quite fitting.

“What’s your name, kid?”

“Ariel.”

“Alright, Ariel. Do you remember the three things I told you yesterday?”

“Yes.”

Actually, she didn’t remember, but it probably wasn’t a big deal.

It was just about listening to him and not doing anything strange.

Soon, the sun began to rise, casting a reddish hue over the vast desert.

Ariel was captivated by the breathtaking sight, and Roo also stared at it with wide eyes.

“Haha, isn’t it amazing? When I was young, I was so mesmerized by this view that I decided to become a desert crossing guide. Honestly, it doesn’t feel as special now, but it was truly magnificent back then.”

Kasim gulped down water from his canteen. Water was a precious resource in the desert, but they had brought enough, and there were a few oases along the way, so…

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Kasim looked surprised.

He noticed that Ariel’s camel wasn’t carrying any luggage.

Only the doll was tied to the camel’s head.

“Uh, hey… Ariel? Where’s your luggage? The water and food?”

When Kasim asked with a bewildered face, Roo, sitting on Ariel’s shoulder, spoke up.

“Our sis is a mage, so she can create water whenever she needs it. Plus, she has plenty of food stored in her magical inventory. No need to worry.”

“Ah… a mage, huh? Impressive, especially for someone so young.”

To Kasim, Ariel seemed even younger than his two daughters.

But a mage? Well, he had heard that there were quite a few young mages at the Magic Tower.

Soon, as the sun fully rose, the desert began to heat up.

Ariel wasn’t particularly bothered by the heat, but Roo was suffering.

“Ugh, sis, I feel like I’m dying…”

For a fairy used to living in cool forests, the desert’s heat was unbearable.

Roo lay sprawled on Sahara’s hump like a corpse.

Seeing this, Ariel cast a spell.

“Ice.”

A basic elemental spell.

But using this basic spell, Ariel created a small ice dome.

The dome was thin and transparent, but it was enough to keep the desert heat at bay.

Roo quickly crawled inside the ice dome.

“Ah, I’m saved!”

A happy smile spread across Roo’s face.

“Sis, thank you. You’re the best.”

Kasim couldn’t hide his amazement.

“That’s some incredible magic…”

Kasim had lived long enough to have seen magic before.

He had seen attack spells like fireballs and sharp wind blades.

But a small ice dome?

This was the first time he had seen such an efficient and creative use of magic.

The ice dome Ariel created didn’t melt at all in the desert heat, maintaining its shape.

Other mages might have struggled with the mana consumption, but for Ariel, it was no big deal.

After a while, the group stopped near a rocky hill.

“Let’s rest here for a bit. We need to give the camels some water too.”

According to Kasim, camels could drink a lot of water at once.

This allowed them to survive for days without water.

“But it’s better to give them water frequently to maintain their stamina and health.”

Approaching the rocky hill, Kasim and Ariel dismounted.

Kasim filled a large bowl with water for his camel, while Ariel created water out of thin air for Sahara.

After the camels drank enough, Kasim and Ariel had their meal.

Kasim took out some dried rations, but Ariel pulled out fresh fruits, bread, and even desserts from her inventory.

“Here, have some.”

As Kasim accepted the fruits and desserts, he thought to himself.

‘Isn’t magic just too convenient…?’

Kasim smiled and bit into the fruit, while Ariel removed her turban and scarf.

Ariel’s silver hair fluttered in the wind.

“……”

For a moment, Kasim froze as he noticed Ariel’s pointed ears.

“You… you’re an elf?”

“Yes.”

Ariel nodded calmly.

“No wonder your magic is so impressive…”

As far as Kasim knew, elves were naturally attuned to mana. That must be why she was so skilled with magic.

Of course, that was just a stereotype.

Elves weren’t inherently more attuned to mana.

It was just an image humans had created because elves lived in forests.

“By the way, why are you crossing the Sahara Desert?”

When Kasim asked, Ariel replied that she was heading to the southern jungles for an adventure.

“Really? An adventurer, huh? Haha, a young elf adventurer. Sounds like something out of a book.”

Kasim smiled, recalling his own youthful dreams.

He too had once dreamed of traveling across the continent.

In the end, he had fallen in love with the desert and became a guide, but he was satisfied.

He could often admire the beautiful desert and took pride in ensuring travelers’ safety.

‘Well, it seems like I don’t have much time left though…’

Kasim subtly touched his leg.

While riding the camel today, his leg had gone numb several times.

It even started to hurt, so it seemed hard to hide that something was wrong with his body.

His life as a guide wouldn’t last much longer.

Thinking of his wife and two daughters at home made his heart heavy, but Kasim quickly shook off the thought.

For now, he needed to focus on crossing the desert.

His job was to ensure Ariel safely crossed the desert.

*

After resting and eating at the rocky hill, they resumed their desert crossing.

The sun had fully risen, making the desert even hotter, but Roo was comfortably enjoying the journey inside Ariel’s ice dome.

Ariel stroked Sahara while carefully observing their surroundings.

The vast desert was dotted with sand dunes and rocky hills, with occasional dry plants.

It was exactly the kind of desert landscape Ariel had imagined.

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, Kasim stopped his camel and stared ahead.

Ariel also stopped Sahara and looked where Kasim was looking.

In the distance, a yellowish-brown cloud was approaching.

“A sandstorm!”

Kasim looked around for a place to take cover.

Luckily, there was a large rock nearby.

“Let’s hide behind that rock!”

Kasim and Ariel urged their camels toward the rock.

As the sandstorm approached, the wind grew louder, and sand began to fly.

“Ariel, cover your face with the scarf! And stay close to the rock… Oof!”

At that moment, Kasim fell to the ground. His camel must have stumbled.

But since he fell on the sand, he wasn’t hurt.

He quickly tried to get back on his camel.

“!”

But then he slumped back down.

His leg had chosen this moment to give out.

Ariel tilted her head, looking at Kasim, while Roo urged him.

“What are you doing? Get up already!”

“S-sorry, but…”

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Kasim’s face.

“Can you take my camel with you? I’ll just stay here.”

“What?”

Roo frowned, and Ariel turned her gaze to the approaching sandstorm.

The sandstorm was coming at an alarming speed.

The deafening wind and flying sand were everywhere.

“Are you hurt?”

Ariel asked as she dismounted.

It seemed she had no intention of leaving Kasim behind.

Kasim shook his head.

“I’m fine, so go to the rock now. It’s dangerous if you don’t.”

But Ariel just stood there, staring at Kasim without moving.

Kasim grew anxious.

‘Damn it.’

Honestly, the sandstorm itself wasn’t a big problem.

As long as it wasn’t a massive one, covering your face and staying low would keep you safe.

The real issue was the sandworms.

Sandworms were giant monsters that lived in the desert, always moving with sandstorms.

They hid within the storms and would swallow travelers and camels whole.

Kasim shouted urgently.

“Ariel! Remember what I told you yesterday? First, never disobey my instructions in the desert! This is an order, take cover behind the rock now!”

Kasim could handle himself, but Ariel was different.

He didn’t want Ariel to die here.

She was too young to die in a place like this.

“Ariel, run!”

But Ariel still didn’t move, and soon the sandstorm was upon them.

Kasim quickly crawled toward Ariel.

If it came to this, he had no choice but to protect her.

“Second.”

At that moment, Ariel spoke softly.

“Always stick together.”

And then the sandstorm engulfed them.