The adventurers dragged their feet as they walked through the sweltering heat of the desert. Paolo gasped for his life; tongue dry.
"Captain, you're making me feel hot," Luna commented.
"I-It's just so hot," Paolo wailed. "I can't even sweat."
Shinzo pulled Octavius in the wagon; eyes glazed from the heat. "I don't want to live anymore, just kill me."
"Please don't, I don't want to drag around a dead body," Shinzo said
Aline narrowed her eyes at the royals. "How are you guys not dying of heat?"
The prince chuckled. "This is our country, so we're used to the heat."
"Even with our new clothes, the heat still burns," Octavius mumbled.
"You guys can do it, I believe in you," Anisa cheered.
"How long have we walked," Luna mumbled.
She hummed. "About two hours."
The adventurers almost fell over.
"You mean to tell me the day isn't even halfway over," Shinzo snapped.
"Aline, I'm hot," Paolo whined.
Aline smiled. "Lucky for you guys, I brought refreshments."
She moved to the third wagon with a circular box. She opened the box and cold air seeped out.
"With Octavius' mini freezer, I was able store a lot of drinks and sweets."
The adventurers beamed.
"You're amazing, Aline," Luna said.
Octavius nodded in agreement. "The best cook in the world."
Paolo pat her back. "Good job."
A Cheshire grin spread on her face. "Praise me more."
Shinzo rolled his eyes. "Don't let her head get big."
Aline glared at him. "I pray you die of heatstroke."
"It's too hot to argue," Octavius whined. "Give us our drinks."
The royal watched, baffled as the adventurers spread a picnic mat on the ground. Aline put out eight plates of cake, seven orange juice and one bottle of booze.
The five settled down to eat.
"Won't you eat?" Octavius asked, mouth full.
The royals sighed. Cairo took a sip out of the orange juice and bleated happily.
Luna chugged down the booze. "This is so good."
Anisa blushed. "Is that alcohol?"
Luna grinned. "I would share, but you're too young."
She shook her head. "Alcohol isn't something you're allowed to drink outside in this country."
Luna gulped down more alcohol. "Well, thank God I don't live here."
They snickered, enjoying their refreshments. They continued their walk, the journey feeling longer than it should have been.
During their journey they faced their biggest challenge yet, a giant gecko with yellow spots on its body. Unfortunately, for the gecko, the Cross Heart Adventurers defeated it with their signature moves and begun to roast it, all the while shocking the royal family to their bones.
Shinzo pulled Octavius in the wagon after their meal, sweating buckets. The older boy's eyes had fully clouded, his eyes staring into the sky.
"Octavius, will you be, okay?" Anisa asked.
"I want to eat those cotton candy," Octavius mumbled, pointing at the clouds.
"He has gone delusional," Aline said.
"Paolo, we need to hurry and recruit a doctor," Luna said. "I don't think we'll survive like this."
"We'll get one after the exam," Paolo said.
Cairo nudged Octavius who giggled. "You're so cute Cairo. Paolo, let's get a pet."
Paolo chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Maybe one day."
"No pet can be as cute as you though," Aline said, tugging his cheeks.
He giggled; eyes completely glazed from the heat.
"How long to Gilam?" Anisa asked.
Luna brought out her map and compass.
She hummed. "We'll be there by this night if we don't take any stops."
"I advise not to walk in the night," Aziz said. "The desert creatures become more concentrated at that time of day."
"That means we'll get to the capital city in the morning," Luna said. "So we stop walking once we find a shade to rest."
They all nodded and continued their journey till the moon hung low in the sky. They made themselves at home under a small cave.
"It's been such a long day," Octavius said, stretching his limbs.
"Don't act like I didn't drag you the whole way," Shinzo said.
"I'm your senior, a young one like you should take care of me."
"I don't want to hear that from someone who looks like that."
"Are you mocking my height?"
The two argued while Aline wrapped her arms around her body. "One minute it's hot the other it's freezing; the desert is so wei-"
Shinzo pushed Octavius into her, the cook falling over. She rose to her feet, veins on her neck and fists raised in anger. "You stupid jerks."
After a knock on the head from Aline, the crew members settled down and fell into a peaceful slumber, waiting for the morning to come.
.....
The four generals had arrived at the Ascot Adventurers guild later that evening, sitting in a dining room located in the upper room
Ariel walked into the room. "It must have been a long trip, but welcome."
"Ah, Vice Commander, hello," Amaya said.
"Sir they're here," Ariel shouted.
At her call, Leon stepped into the room, settling into the chair at the head of the table. "Welcome generals, let's discuss our plans to make Alba an example to other countries that we're serious about this and that we will create the perfect Utopia." Ariel placed a cup of tea in front of him and he took out if it. "Now these are our orders."
He talked and the generals listened attentively.
"Our plans commence tomorrow by three in the afternoon and be sure-"
He got interrupted by the squawking of a messenger bird perched at the window. He removed the letter from the bird's neck.
"Who is it from?" Ariel asked.
"The head of the Hama Island Guild," he said, pulling the letter out of its envelope.
He scowled his eyes glazing through the letter. "I don't understand," he mumbled. "I thought team four had killed them." he turned to Ariel. "Have you received any information from team four?"
She shook her head. "No, why?"
"It says here that those adventurers took them to the guild and that they'll be sent to the fortress." He slammed his fists on the table. "What of those messengers I sent?"
"We also didn't get any news from them. I had assumed they just went in with the other two hundred soldiers," Ariel said.
His mind moved back to the conversation he had with team four about their plans. "Then that means the person who answered that time wasn't a member of team four but a member of that abominable adventurer crew."
"Commander Leon, what's the problem?" Kia asked.
"The adventure crew tasked with protecting the royal family are still alive meaning the prince and his sister are still alive," Leon said.
"What if they interfere with our plans?" Amaya asked.
"I won't let that happen, Ariel print out pictures of those adventurers and hand them to all the members. We have to stop them at all costs from getting to the Legislate house," Leon said.
She nodded. "Yes Commander Leon."
He gritted his teeth. "Nothing will stop me from creating my perfect Utopia."