After a few hour's ride on the giant scorpion, Fio and Nowa saw it: A magnificent stone building, with walls that surrounded the lake.
They could only make it out thanks to the night; In daytime, mirages hid the building unless one came close. Not to mention the quicksand preventing access by land.
Fio couldn't be blamed for thinking he wouldn't make it. The only way to get here by land was a creature accustomed to the desert, and able to carry at least one person on its back - like the scorpion they rode on.
"It's a good thing we made it, but..."
Fio gazed at the massive walls in front of them. They were about twenty meters high - much higher than any human could manage to climb with their bare hands.
"It's okay, we'll climb it!"
Nowa's voice is full of confidence, despite his worry.
"Hold on tight!"
As soon as she said so, the massive scorpion below jumped onto the wall!
"Eeeeeh!?"
Ignoring the panicking boy, the large animal rapidly climbed up the wall!
"Goooo! Scorpi!"
Nowa shouted encouragement as Scorpi climbed up the wall, digging its claws into gaps in the castle wall!
"This is absurd! Totally absurd!"
"It'll all be okay! Believe in Scorpi!"
Noticing how Fio was trembling in anxiety and dread, Nowa hugged him from behind.
"B-But!"
The animal was already reaching its limits. Even Fio could notice how Scorpi slowed.
Despite how huge it was, Scorpi was still a little scorpion compared to the massive wall--climbing the whole thing while carrying two people was, as Fio said, absurd.
"W-We're falling!"
"It's okay, leave it all to Nowa!"
The half-elf slipped an arm around his waist and launched off Scorpi's back, leaping high into the air! As they left their mount, Scorpi used its claws to push them a bit further up!
"Thanks, Scorpi!"
Scorpi lost its balance after pushing them up - falling off the wall into the desert sands!
"We're falling! We're falling!"
"It's okay!"
Carrying Fio in her arm, Nowa twisted in the air and landed on top of the castle wall!
"See? I told you it was okay."
Grinning, she placed Fio on the ground.
"Bye-bye, Scorpi! See you again!"
The girl waved at the huge creature as it got back on its feet and dived back into the desert sands - then picked up her weapon.
From this point on, they were in enemy territory.
They couldn't get careless.
Fio, on the other hand, was gasping for air--trying to get his heartbeat under control.
He'd never have guessed Nowa was capable of such a feat. A normal person would have checked the wall to find an entrance before running up it, but Nowa simply took the quickest route.
[She's even more straightforward than Leina.]
"I thought I was gonna die."
"It's okay! You won't die as long as you're with Nowa!"
After saying "It's okay!" for the umpteenth time, Nowa turned to look inside the wall. Fio followed suit.
"What's.... What's that?"
A completely different world spread before their eyes.
Torchlight made the waterways that spread every which way glitter, illuminating the oasis as though it were daytime. It was beautiful, the way the city was surrounded by a band of light. There were many fountains placed here and there, and people were chilling out around them.
Fio pointed at the streets.
"Is there a festival today?"
"Nowa doesn't know. But, they seem to be happy."
Despite the late hour, the wind picked up some of the laughter from the people.
"Do we go down?"
"Yes - just, no jumping off. Please."
***
"It's no good, Milady. We came up empty tonight."
Devil Setra returned to Menace's temple.
"Oh my~, what a pity."
The princess greeted him, licking her lips at the luxurious meals spread on the table before her.
In the room with them was Leina, eating with a blank expression, and the chamberlains carrying the food.
"Are you eating again, Milady?"
"I'm having them reproduce Amaran food for the first time in thousands of years. But, I can't remember the taste very well, so I had them make a lot."
Considering the amount of food being served, it was unlikely that Menace could eat it all alone.
"I'm having Miss Leina help me as well."
The warrior kept on eating, no expression on her face, no reaction to the food.
"...Does it taste good?"
"..."
Leina finished chewing, then swallowed.
"If Lady Menace says it tastes good, it tastes good."
The Vance heiress kept eating besides Menace, expressionless and apathetic - If anyone who knew her saw this, they'd know something was wrong.
"Oh, Miss Leina. You may stop when your stomach is full."
"...Yes, Lady Menace."
"Ain't the curse too strong?"
"How rude! I didn't curse her or anything! I only asked her for a favor!
Menace pouted. It seemed she didn't remember cursing and brainwashing Leina at all. She thought she had only painted the warrior with oil and dyed her hair to protect her from the intense sunlight.
"That gal was pretty straightforward, wasn't she?"
He whispered to himself. Pure humans were the most susceptible to hypnosis.
"I'm sure my words reached her heart."
In a way, She was speaking the truth.
"Just a little longer, and she'll be someone I can talk to."
***
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