Arrival at Breeze of the Kingdom of Lazurus

I don’t consider myself a believer in bad omens. But I do believe that the world gets set right if you try.

Coming across rock bottom, with grit, it was only up from here. At least, nothing was there to stop me from hoping.

Another wave of heat.

The dice of fate rolled and rolled, and this morning, they felt like ruthlessly rolling against our favor. As it turned out, the Heaven’s Gate, which was our means of passage and exit through the Labyrinth, nearest the supposedly lush hometown that was our destination, was dead center in a coastal desert.

It probably wasn’t scorching hot. Yet, my sweat and thirst pleaded contrary.

At the very least, compared to the Labyrinth we ventured through and where we came from, my brother Percival and I were roasting under the sun. The waves were of similar intensity to Silas’s Fire Sun magic. Consistent and making it a journey to think rationally.

We had loosened our clothes and used our last remaining water to cover ourselves with a wet sheet.

Water. Anything to drink… Like hunger from the stomach, it was an unignorable desire, but from the dryness of the mouth and throat.

“Gnh… You’re pulling through, Hati.”

My stead snorted back.

The long-evaporated sweat that trailed close to my eyes was making it harder to see.

But it wasn’t all sun glare and desert. A spot of flourishing vegetation, an oasis breaking away from these barren dunes, one so rich that it could be mistaken for a mirage, was tantalizing us at a distance, keeping us at the advance.

Traversing across these sands, our warhorses were also being pushed to the brink.

“Daaah! This sucks!” I threw my head back and howled at the grey sky and sun. “What the hell am I doing in this miserable place?!”

Lucifer, the deity who blessed me with her power, spoke in my mind. Though she was currently dematerialized, her scorn was clear.

[Lord Spes… That’s what I wanted to ask! We shoulda taken the longer road to Coursac’s Heaven’s Gate. This is what we get for following you.]

“Well, excuuuse me for taking the shortcut. Besides, someone said they wanted to witness my grand heroic deeds up close.”

[Yes, yes. It’s a spectacle beyond compare.]

“We have the border pass from Fengaru’s Princess, and yet,”

Percival tapped into a burst of speed, “Wah, what’s that?!”

“Hmm? What’s the commotion?”

“A whole bunch of monsters!! Beast Scorpions at 8 o’clock too!”

Michael, Percival’s deity, suddenly appeared, ready with her gauntlets. “Must’ve slipped past the Gate! Alright! I wanted an excuse to materialize!”

A mass of black-coated scales tore up the sands, their stingers poised behind them.

“Like moths drawn to a flame or something. Perfect, something to work out my anger on.”

[No matter. They’re just a bunch of fodder.]

“Michael, no! We can’t both get dehydrated!”

“Sorry, Big Bro, if you want to save your strength, then join me!”

“Let’s go?” I asked Lucifer.

[Those monsters are wayy too absentminded to waste our time on.]

“It will only take a second.”

[I’m telling you guys got your priorities all, completely, freaking wrong!! Getting you under shade at the village is, nh…]

“Oh, so this is a waste of time? Awww!”

[…]

“Awww!”

[Is something the matter? The sun has you acting all weird.] “I’ll oversee it just this once. Wow, it really is hot.”

“Die, monsters! Gahaha!”

“Geez, deplorable…”

After clearing them out, I blacked out.

“Lord Spes…??”

“Gue!” I slipped off and landed on the warm sands and arms, Lucifer at my side. The immediate rays of sun discouraged her, but compared to noticing how serious things were, she helped me back on my warhorse.

[What a bother. Let me just rest here~.]

I was suffering from a fever. Due to the heat, it was hard to tell by touching my forehead, but the signs of my shivering were unquestionable.

“Gh…!” No sooner after I had collapsed, Percival dismounted his warhorse to check on me, but his knees buckled upon the sands. Michael was in turn assisting him back up.

[Doesn’t your Armament help counter these ailments?!]

“That’s an overstatement. Your regeneration is primarily for wounds.”

[…Thanks.]

“Thank me later. We need to get you guys safe! We need to get out of these dunes!”

“Let’s fight through it, come on, Big Bro! We’ll reach the village soon~!”

We had to lie under cold shade. More crucially, we needed to reach water. If it wasn’t for the cool sea breeze blazing from the coast far behind us, we probably would’ve become heat-exhausted sooner.

I could see the freshwater oasis. It was an entire village, with huts and people who looked like ants among the grass at this distance. There was even a fertile river, and a few ways further, verdant rolling hills and clouds of fog. Clouds of water. Water.

“We will reach the village soon. For now, you can… tell me if you need anything.”

[Water, water, water!]

“Ah, shut up. I will get you water soon too.”

[Would you lend me a hand in finding the head of the village? I’ll use the Armament on them so we don’t get arrested for drinking the whole spring.]

“Hehe~. I will try. So… don’t have a heat stroke.”

[I won’t, but I need water. And rest. Could you take hold of the reins?]

“You don’t sound conscious.”

[…My head hurts. It’s splitting open.]

“Snort*!!”

It appeared that the tall morning sunlight was provoking Hati more than it was sapping his energy. His frustration shouted that a one-man saddle is only meant to carry a single person.

“Sorry, horse. Wha…? Body contact will heat you up more.”

[Please… It’s to keep me from falling off… not because of other things…]

“Right… It can’t be helped. You may rely on me, Lord Spes. But you better make up for this humiliation later.”

I told Lucifer to suggest Percival and Michael do the same. Holding her was easier on the strain. Despite the heat, I was cold. Everything was getting blurry and vague again.