The journey from the city of Karol to the capital of the Oasis Empire takes 1-2 weeks, depending on the weather. For this reason, the riding animals were chosen with the expectation that they would have enough provisions to last at least two weeks. This is why large animals were used for such a mission. Even excluding the possibility of bandits raiding the caravans along the way, the wildlife had to be handled even more carefully, so everyone was on their guard.
The two mistresses of the Aqua Family sat in the carriage on the blue lizard, whose skin was more like the slimy skin of a toad, it was a special animal beast that the Aqua Family had cultivated, it was suitable for travelling long distances as it didn't shake much, which could keep them calm and comfortable during the journey. There was only one problem.
"Where did so many mosquitoes come from!!! Melissa!!! Hurry and close the window!!!"
These lizards were carnivorous. Although they were large in size, about 7 metres long and 2 metres high, they fed on insects that flew towards them because of the odour emanating from their skin. Few people would be willing to open a window while travelling in the mountain wilderness.
Melissa, of course, was the exception. Her eyes simply burned at what was opening up in front of her. The way from Karol City to the capital was through a mountain of monsters. During the day it was not too scary, it was more like an untouched nature reserve where the flora and fauna were in pristine condition. This was where the mercenary group would take baby monsters and raise them to increase their power, just like the rest of the mercenary group. The market animals came from here, or from families who supplied the market with special kinds of animals whose food could usually only be obtained from these families.
All around you could see an entire ecosystem. Moving to the left, the climate became hotter, and there were fire lions, sand scorpions and creatures better adapted to such a climate, as well as cacti and other plants. To the right were swampy areas, and there you'd find animals closer to amphibians, and ferns and mosses and plants like that.
Her only regret was that she couldn't fly up to see for herself. Clantis had told her all about the world outside the family walls from an early age. Clantis had been a kind uncle to her. Though her father and other relatives loved her, they concentrated on educating her in magic, but didn't tell her much about nature beyond the continent. Her salvation from perpetual boredom were the stories of the head of her mother's protectors, who often visited her family's home on various missions. Though many in the troupe resented the Fourth Mistress's constant displeasure and requests to be accompanied by a 50-man escort to various social occasions, Clantis had already grown attached to the girl who always listened to his tales of adventures from his youth. Clantis knew the Herald from his days of service in a fallen kingdom. They had both lost family members during times of battle in their country's territory. Clantis had lost a wife and daughter, and the Herald a pregnant woman, and though the experience might have driven them mad, they never forgot each other, even going out for a drink once a week. For their destinies, finding two children to be parents to was a great opportunity to heal the wounds of their hearts.
As Melissa looked around, she noticed a blonde-haired boy about her age, also looking around, but without the fire of curiosity, but with a wise and experienced look in his eyes.
"Lucky him, I want to learn about everything here the same way. I should learn from him a way to go with experienced people so they can explain everything to me," Melissa thought.
"Melissa!!! Close the window already!!!"
"Yes, I am."
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It was already the third day on the road.
Most of the defenders and mercenaries had already become partners through personal acquaintances and the friendship of their leaders, so the group's progress had already reached a maximum level of cohesion. Everyone knows the routines of sleep, duty and meals. All roles had been redistributed by necessity to maximise efficiency, but only the scout was always with the mercenary group. The only exception was Clantis, who went out with the Herald in the evenings during the communal meal to inspect the surroundings. Everything was always the same, but they never let their guard down. And it was on the third day that it became clear that the journey to the capital would not be so peaceful...