The atmosphere had changed ever since the caravan had entered the oasis. Zeke had felt the shift as well. The surrounding flora, beautiful as it may be, seed to be full of dangers.
Attention! Rahul yelled. He was one of the three Grand Mages and the leader of the guards. For the next hour, I want all of you to focus no distractions, no playing around. This might only be a silver-level zone, but I am not taking any risks.
Yes, sir! the n replied in unison. From their quick and coordinated response, it beca clear that the guards were well-trained. Each of the two other Grand Mages led half of the 20 True Mages, with Rahul functioning as the overall commander.
Zeke and Leo, for their part, were not integrated into this command structure. The two of them had the freedom to act on their own, but this also ant that they couldnt expect sobody to rush in and save them, were they to get into trouble. But Zeke wasnt worried.
Luckily, the carriages made quick progress, as they didnt have to cut their way through the vegetation. The well-maintained path led right through the heart of the oasis. Their destination was a fortified post on the far side, close to the water. They would need an hour to reach it, and this was the last leg of their journey for the day.
Zeke and Leo walked along their carriage, flanking it on either side. For now, everything was calm, and Zeke used this ti to study the greenery. The erald leaves of the palm-like trees glistened in the dappled sunlight, their fronds swaying with a gentle, almost hypnotic rhythm.
The ground beneath his boots was a soft carpet of lush, velvety moss that seed to pulse with a faint glow. Vibrant blue and purple flowers adorned the moss, their sweet scent filling the air with a heady, intoxicating fragrance.
It was such a stark difference to the wasteland from monts ago. From a barren prairie into a tropical paradise with nothing but a few steps, it was unlike anything Zeke had experienced before. He couldnt help but let out a sigh of admiration. Reading about desert oases and experiencing their miracles for himself were worlds apart. This was a sight he wouldnt soon forget.
Zeke reached out to touch a nearby tree, marveling at the smooth, silver bark that seed to shimr like liquid tal. As his fingers made contact, a delicate cascade of tiny, glowing lights trickled down from the leaves above, like stardust.
"Breath-taking," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
The carriage rolled on, the wheels creaking softly as they navigated the winding path through the enchanting oasis. Zeke noticed that the vines hanging from the trees were alive with movent, their tendrils gracefully weaving together in intricate patterns as if they were engaged in a secret dance.
A soft, lodic hum filled the air, and Zeke realized it was coming from the luminous butterflies that flitted among the blossoms. Their wings shimred with a rainbow of colors, and they left trails of glowing powder in their wake.
[Warning]
Those are Shimrwing Butterflies. Their spores contain a strong paralytic poison that can even affect Grand Mages in high enough doses.
Zeke nodded, his eyes now filled with caution as he eyed the deceptively peaceful butterflies. He had been nave. To survive in this highly competitive environnt, the creatures living here needed to be able to defend themselves. It was foolish to assu that any life form here was harmless.
For the next while, Zeke kept his eyes on the bushes and trees along the path. However, neither he nor Akasha spotted anything. As ti ticked by without anything happening, Zeke grew convinced they would make it through without any incidents.
As if to spite him, distant shouts rang out from the back of the caravan. Zeke imdiately exchanged a glance with Leo. His brother had an eager glint in his eyes, leaving Zeke helpless. With a nod, he agreed to Leos silent plea and the two ran towards the commotion.
They arrived just in ti to witness the start of the battle. Three enormous scorpions had appeared behind the last carriage, attacking from both sides. Their pincers were the length of an arm, and Zeke had no doubt they could bisect a human with ease. Furthermore, their eight, spiderlike legs made the creatures deceptively agile.
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