Arthur's Point of View
The following morning, Paul gathered everyone after spending most of the night locked away with Rudeus. Although Paul remained the group's official leader, it was Rudeus who stepped forward to explain the details of the journey.
"Alright, listen up," Rudeus began, spreading a yellowed map across the table. "We've mapped out the return route. We'll cross the Begaritt Desert following the merchant caravans toward the coast."
As he pointed out locations on the map, he mentioned a "special route" to shorten the trip, but he was very vague, omitting crucial details. I knew exactly what he was talking about: the teleportation magic circles. I understood his secrecy; the fear instilled in him by anything related to that subject—especially after his encounter with Orsted—was palpable.
"Are you sure Zenith can handle the journey through the desert?" Elinalise asked, crossing her arms with concern.
Lilia, who hadn't left Zenith's side for a single moment, responded firmly: "I will take care of her personal needs, and Paul will be there to protect her at all times. We won't let anything happen to her."
Paul nodded with determination. He had already made the necessary arrangements: using part of the treasures recovered from the labyrinth, he purchased a reinforced transport pulled by a giant armadillo—an armored monster animal ideal for the hostile terrain and sandstorms of Begaritt.
It was then that Paul mentioned, almost in passing, that a portion of the funds had been allocated to the materials for the sword Roxy had given me. Hearing this, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Not only had Roxy put her magic and effort into it, but the entire group had agreed that I deserved a weapon of such caliber. I took the moment to thank them all formally; their approving looks and smiles made me feel, more than ever, like part of a true family.
The rest of the loot was sold in the Rapan market for an astronomical sum. After distributing the shares, my pouch was heavier than I had ever imagined. To be honest, with that amount, I could buy my own house in Ranoa, furnish it with luxuries, and live comfortably for years on my savings alone.
"Alright, the plan is in motion," Paul concluded. "Gisu, Elinalise, and I will handle the final supplies and secure the transport. We leave soon."
The meeting ended and the group dispersed. Rudeus approached me along with Talhand and Roxy as the others left. Although the route was planned, we spent some time discussing preparations to avoid any mishaps along the way. With a group of this level, common monsters wouldn't pose much of a challenge, but in Begaritt, you can never be too cautious; the unexpected is the only constant in the desert.
After securing the provisions, checking the armadillo's harness, and settling Zenith into the carriage, the moment arrived. The gates of Rapan fell behind us, and the infinite horizon of dunes opened before us.
The journey home had begun.
We had been traveling for several days, and everything had gone without a hitch. The Begaritt Desert, with its reputation as a graveyard for inexperienced travelers, seemed almost docile beneath the feet of the giant armadillo pulling our transport. We had encountered a few monsters—lesser sand worms and a couple of giant scorpions—but they weren't worth mentioning.
With a group of this caliber, threats vanished before I had to make any real effort. Paul and Elinalise dispatched enemies with terrifying efficiency, while Rudeus and Roxy cast support spells that turned any ambush into a simple practice drill. Practically, I hadn't had to do much more than observe and keep watch at the rear.
Night fell, and it was my turn to stand guard with Roxy. The camp was silent, broken only by the occasional crackle of the firewood and the quiet snorting of the giant armadillo sleeping a few meters from the carriage. The Begaritt sky stretched over us, clear and covered in stars.
Roxy was sitting on a low rock, her staff leaning to one side and her legs tucked in. The firelight made her blue hair look darker than usual. I was right beside her.
"It's very quiet," she finally said, breaking the silence with that soft voice that always seemed to bring order to my mind.
"You're right, though when I traveled alone with Fenril, the nights were a bit more complicated," I replied with a small smile, distractedly stroking Fenril, who was resting his head on my boots. "I didn't always have the luck of such a peaceful watch."
Roxy let out a little giggle and adjusted the brim of her hat with an elegant gesture. "I imagine it couldn't have been easy to survive out there on your own," she commented, looking at me sideways with curiosity.
"Well, it took some getting used to, but in the end, we learned to read each other."
Roxy fell silent for a moment, shifting her gaze to the hilt of my sword. The turquoise crystal on the guard reflected the glow of the embers.
"So... have you thought of a name for it yet?" she asked, gesturing toward the sword. She seemed expectant, as if the name meant something important to her too.
I looked at her intently. "Yes," I replied softly, letting my hand rest on the scabbard. "Her name is Roxaria."
Roxy froze for a second, her eyes wide and her lips parted, as if the words took time to process in her mind. The glow of the campfire illuminated the subtle but unmistakable blush that crept up her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
"Rox... Roxaria?" she repeated in a whisper, looking down at her interlaced hands. "Arthur, that's... it sounds very similar to my..."
"It's because it carries your essence," I interrupted gently, turning a bit more toward her. "It carries your magic and, above all, the fact that you were the one who gave it to me. I thought there was no better name for something that is going to protect my life from now on."
She didn't respond immediately. She adjusted her hat, pulling it down a bit more to hide her shyness, but I could see a small, sweet smile forming on her face.
"It's a very beautiful name," she said finally, regaining a bit of her teacher-like composure, though her voice still trembled slightly. "I hope Roxaria lives up to your expectations..."
Just then, Fenril, who seemed to be fast asleep, perked up his ears suddenly. He stood up with a fluid motion, letting out a growl that made the hair on my arms stand on end. His golden eyes fixed intensely on the darkness beyond the dune where the armadillo rested.
I stood up instantly, releasing the scabbard and letting my right hand close firmly around Roxaria's hilt.
"Roxy, get behind me," I ordered in a tense whisper.
She didn't protest. She stood up agilely, gripping her staff as she began to murmur the syllables of a silent incantation.
The silence of the desert was broken by a hissing sound, as if thousands of small needles were brushing against the sand at the same time.
From the shadows of the dune, dozens of low, fast silhouettes began to emerge. They were Begaritt Needle Scorpions, but they weren't the normal ones; these glowed with a violet hue under the starlight, a sign that they were charged with magical venom.
"Looks like I'll finally get to test her..." I muttered, unsheathing the black blade.
The sword slid from its scabbard with a crystalline hiss, releasing a gust of cold air that momentarily extinguished the smaller flames of our campfire.
"Arthur, they're coming from the flanks!" Roxy warned, raising her staff as a sphere of water began to condense above our heads.
"Understood!" I replied without looking away from the front.
Roxaria vibrated in my hand; the turquoise crystal of the guard pulsed with a dim light. The first scorpions lunged from the dunes with a dry snap, their stingers loaded with venom.
I stepped forward and slashed.
The black edge described a clean, silent arc. There was no resistance. The first scorpion was split in two before even hitting the ground, and the venom dripping from its stinger dispersed into the air as if the blade itself rejected it with disdain.
"It didn't absorb it," I thought with a spark of wonder. "It's designed to reject external magic."
"Arthur, to your left!" Roxy exclaimed.
I spun on my axis, feeling my Touki flow without friction through the braided hilt, giving it a golden hue. Roxaria responded instantly; the cut was much stronger than I expected. Two, three scorpions fell in fragments before I could even process my own movements.
Behind me, Roxy completed her incantation.
"Piercing Rain!"
The sphere of water above our heads exploded, fragmenting into dozens of liquid needles that fell like a deadly curtain. The scorpions shrieked as they were pierced; the magical venom sizzled upon contact with Roxy's enchanted water before dissipating into steam.
"Good control," I said between short breaths, without dropping my guard.
"Concentrate," she replied, though I detected a hint of relief and pride in her tone.
Fenril then lunged into the fray, using his distortion ability to reach them without trouble. His fangs crushed a stinger before it could fire, sending fragments of chitin flying. However, the mass of enemies was overwhelming; one of the scorpions managed to slip under my guard.
I felt the stinger brush my side—instinctively—
Roxaria interposed herself almost of her own volition, as if the sword had its own reflexes. The stinger collided with the blade... and disintegrated on contact, as if it had hit a wall of absolute reality. My eyes widened in incredulity.
I spat through my teeth and decided to stop defending. I moved forward. This time I didn't limit myself to simple slashes; I let my Touki flow completely into the core of the sword. Roxaria responded with a deep, low hum that made the ground beneath my feet vibrate. The air in front of me became heavy, freezing.
I unleashed a single horizontal slash, releasing all the accumulated energy.
The shockwave swept the sand, tearing the remaining scorpions from the ground and splitting them in the air as if they were simple paper figures. Silence fell abruptly over the camp, interrupted only by the dull thud of lifeless bodies hitting the dunes.
A few seconds of absolute stillness passed. Nothing else moved.
I sheathed the sword slowly, enjoying the sound of the metal clicking into the leather.
"Good job," Roxy said calmly, breaking the silence.
I turned to her. The firelight, which had begun to burn brightly again after the sword's pulse, illuminated her face.
"Thanks," I replied, letting out a sigh that released the tension built up in my shoulders. "The sword is perfect."
Roxy stepped closer, observing Roxaria's scabbard with a soft, satisfied smile.
"I'm glad to know she didn't disappoint you," she murmured.
Fenril approached us, shaking the sand from his silver fur and letting out a huff of approval as he sniffed the remains of a scorpion. For a moment, under the stars of Begaritt, the danger of the desert seemed small compared to the strength I felt by her side.
"Well," I said, looking toward the carriage where everything remained peaceful, "it looks like the rest of the watch will be more boring. Do you want to sit down for a moment?"
Roxy nodded in silence, and for the rest of the night, the only sound in the camp was the soft murmur of our conversation and the desert wind caressing the dunes.
End of Chapter
By the way, Merry Christmas to all! 🎄🎄🎇