ARC 3: WARLOCKS'S PLAYTIME
The sun is scorching hot, glaring at Raye and the party as they walk in the dune.
Al:"Can't believe they made us fight a beast just as we enter the dune!"
Raye:"Glad we were quick enough, I was so nervous at that time, needing to slay a beast within 5 seconds that can kill you INSTANTLY if he sees you,"
Will:"Didn't thought I would cough up blood just to kill a beast so weak,"
Raye and Al stare at Will, thinking he was joking, but he is not. Guess we never know what kind of beast is considered formidable to an eye of a dark sage.
Raye:"Alright..., so, the guards work at the borderline said that there would not be a town from where we are now, so we have to sleep in a tent, luckily the guards are kind enough to give us three tent and some kit to survive in the dune,"
"More like we did their job and repay us with 'kindness',"
Al muttered to himself. He seems to have some beef with the guards.
Will:"I guess we are never getting that money until the next kingdom,"
Raye:"There is a city near to the borderline between the dune and the next kingdom we are heading, the Kingdom of Sahhara, known for their culture kept for centuries,"
Al:"Wouldn't that take let me guess, 3 weeks by foot?"
Raye:"Well, the dune is quite big so..."
Al:"Did we store food enough for that long?"
Raye:"Yep, food worth for 3 weeks,"
Al:"At least we have enough food,"
Suddenly, the ground rumble. An eel jumped up from the ground and snatched their food. Al and Raye looked surprised, knowing that 3 weeks worth of food is lost. They then realized they are in a desert eel territory where desert eel, eel that have lived in the dune and have adapted to it would jump up and bite whoever stepped into their territory. They would pull them down and slowly eat them. Many desert eel jumped up and try to attack the party but got killed by Raye with electric shock through his sword. The electric shock the all the eel, burning them into crispy eel.
"THUNDER STRIKE!"
Will:"Congrats, looks like we found our new sources of food,"
Al:"Our food..."
Al was whining as they eat the desert eel for their lunch.
"By the way, does this eel have poison?" Al speak as he chew the eel.
Raye:"It's about time my handy cookbook that consist all knowledge of every existing beast come to use,"
Raye:"Let me see....., it has organs that fueled with their poison to stunt anyone, we just need to remove their teeth and that organ and we should be safe to eat it,"
Al swallowed as Raye finished his sentence. Realizing that he just ate poison, he try to vomit out the eel he just swallowed.
Al:"Damn you Raye,..."
Raye:"You didn't mentioned it earlier,"
They then removed the teeth and the organs of the desert eels that they killed, cook it again only to eat it. The process took around 30 minutes and they spend eating for 15 minutes. They then continue walking to the Kingdom of Sahhara under the hot sun.
Al:"Looks like we gonna eat beast for 3 weeks,...."
Raye:"Come on, beast isn't that bad, besides, with my cookbook I'm sure we could get through this,"
There is nothing much to see in the dune. Only cactus and other plants that adapt to the weather of the dune. Other than that, there is really nothing much to see. Al look to his right, watching a merchant riding a camel walking in the dune.
Al:"Couldn't we just rent few camels to ride, that make the process quicker,"
Raye:"Sorry Al, they were all rented out to the party that are at the front of the line,"
Al:"Damn it,"
They walk and walk and walk, nothing significant have happen in the dune, no beast, they have probably been defeated by hero party that were far ahead of Raye's party. Few hours later, it is night. At morning, the dune is very hot, but at night, it is something else, it is very cold, so cold that it could cause a frostbite or even worse, turning you into a ice sculpture or instant death.
Raye:"I didn't thought the night would be THIS cold!,"
Al:"That damn store owner we bought our clothe suitable for the dune didn't told us anything about the night!,"
Will then set up a fire as the other two pitched up the tents. The fire Will cast is hot enough to keep all three of them warm.
Al:"I don't know how long I am able to survive 3 weeks sleeping in this weather!,"
Raye:"Let's just hope the goddess of night go easy on us,"
Al:"Heilen, the goddess of remedy and mercy, I pray for you to protect us from any danger at the night,..."
Will:"..., I'm heading to bed,"
Will then set up a trap that triggers if anything gets close to them by using Will's shadow to devour it before going to bed.
It is hard to sleep at night in the dune. It is so cold you can't stop sneezing every few seconds. You can hear beast growling, as if they are coming near to you, although there is nothing to fear since Will already set a trap.
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The sun rose, it is already morning, it still feels chilly but hot at the same time. They kept their tent, change their clothes and continue the journey. There is no beast that attempt to attack the party last night which is kind of bad since there is no food to cook and eat.
Will:"Looks like we have nothing to eat for breakfast,"
Al:"Hey Raye, does your cookbook say any beast that could be eaten and found in our area?"
Raye:"Let me see,..... no, all of them are deadly,"
Al:"Damn it,"
Al then notice a merchant selling food with a line. They quickly rushed there and see what the merchant is selling. The line wasn't that long so it was quickly their turn. The merchant is selling bread for 5 silver coins per piece. Not loaf, but piece.
"Get your bread here, come on up, get your bread here!"
Raye:"how much per piece,"
"5 silver coins per piece,"
Al:"5 silver coins per piece? That's absurd! I could buy a loaf for 1 silver coins!"
"You didn't brought your own food, this is what you face in the dune,"
Al:"You damn-"
Will grabbed Al before he is able to hit the merchant.
Raye:"We will take 3 piece of bread then,"
"That will be 15 silver coins,"
Raye pay and grab their breakfast which seems to be a scam. The merchant isn't wrong, you didn't brought your food, don't try to complain, though 5 silver coins for a piece of bread is still a scam.
They ate their breakfast and resume their journey. As they walk, they almost got pickpocketed by a local that probably visit the dune just to pickpocket. Al noticed him and almost beat him up but Raye stop him as Will set that local clothe on fire. This is the truth of the dune, gotta be cautious or else you die...