The desert was dotted with mountains long eroded by sand and wind. Their sharp ridges had been worn smooth, leaving them rounded and layered like great stacks of mille-feuille.
At the base of one of the larger mountains lay a sunken basin, and nestled there was a small village.
This was their destination—Aaru Village.
When Dehya awoke in the morning, the group set out once more. Along the way, they encountered hilichurls, scorpions, and other monsters. Nolan dispatched them casually, earning a handful of Adventure EXP.
By noon, the party finally arrived at Aaru Village.
At the entrance, a few Sumeru soldiers stood guard, keeping out strangers of uncertain origin.
"Hey, Dehya! Long time no see. Are these your new recruits?"
The guard clearly recognized Dehya, though his eyes flicked curiously toward Nolan and Nilou, whom he didn't know.
"Long time no see, Ale." Dehya greeted him with a smile before explaining, "They're my friends, here to explore the desert."
"I see. In that case, go on in."
The soldier, Ale, didn't doubt them. First, because Dehya herself had brought them—she was well-connected with the Guardian of the village.
Second, because with the Guardian here, anyone foolish enough to cause trouble in Aaru would be swiftly punished.
"Thanks!"
Dehya nodded and led Nolan and Nilou into the village.
"This place is huge… and so lively," Nilou murmured as she walked. Her white tights peeked out from beneath her skirt, covered by the short transparent boots of Hydro Nolan had conjured for her. She glanced curiously at the bustling streets.
As one of the rare safe settlements in the desert, Aaru was naturally far more prosperous than a typical village. It was no sparsely populated outpost, but a true hub of life.
"Exactly. Out here, supplies are always in demand, so merchants flock here to trade," Dehya said, also scanning the streets.
It had been some time since she'd last visited Aaru herself, and now she felt a strange freshness in its sights and sounds.
"Next, I'll take you to meet the Guardian here—Candace. She'll arrange lodging for you. Stay as long as you'd like."
Dehya smiled as she spoke.
"I read on the 'Akasha Forum' yesterday that the Guardian of Aaru Village is a true descendant of the Scarlet King, blessed by the gods. They say she can summon sandstorms to bury any foe who dares attack. Sounds incredible!" Nilou's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she walked.
"Huh? Candace is that amazing? Why don't I know about this?" Dehya folded her arms and shook her head.
"Hmph. It's probably just troublemakers who got beaten up by her and, scared out of their wits, spread rumors about her having divine powers.
"Take such stories with a grain of salt."
"Is that so… I really thought she could command sandstorms." Nilou touched the red strand of hair at her cheek, looking slightly embarrassed.
"She's just like you—a Vision holder with Hydro. I've sparred with her before. Her strength is about the same as mine. As for controlling sandstorms? I've never once seen her do it."
Dehya's tone was calm as she explained.
"We're here. This is where the Guardian usually works." She raised her chin toward the front.
Following her gaze, Nolan saw a building more refined than the houses around it—easy to recognize.
Its color blended with the desert sands, just like the rest of the village. Such camouflage reduced the chance of drawing the attention of monsters from the sky.
Indeed, across the endless desert, everything looked the same hue. From above, spotting Aaru Village would be near impossible.
Soon, they arrived at the Guardian's office.
Dehya was about to greet the guards and have them announce their arrival when the heavy door swung open on its own.
A woman with long dark-blue hair stepped out. Her eyes were striking—heterochromatic, a rare sight.
"Oh? Isn't this Dehya? Weren't you hired as a rich young lady's bodyguard in Sumeru City? How come you have time to run all the way here?"
This heterochromatic-eyed woman, whose honey-toned skin was much like Dehya's, looked at her with surprise.
"Yo, long time no see, Candace." Dehya greeted her with a grin. "This is Nilou, a dancer—she came to the desert seeking inspiration. And this is Nolan, the adventurer Nilou hired to protect her."
She introduced the two of them.
"Nice to meet you both. I'm Candace, Guardian of Aaru Village. Welcome." Candace smiled warmly.
Nolan and Nilou returned her greeting with polite courtesy.
"I came this time to donate some funds for the children of Aaru. I'll explain the details later. For now, arrange a place for us to stay—and a map marked with the nearby oases."
Dehya added casually.
"You really don't waste any time piling work onto me, huh?" Candace gave her a helpless look. "But since you're donating, I'll let it slide."
"Haha, come on, it's noon. Lunch is on me!"
Dehya pretended not to notice Candace's exasperation, slung an arm over her shoulder, and beckoned Nolan and Nilou along as they headed for a nearby restaurant.
Nolan and Nilou exchanged a glance. Both silently thought Dehya had the air of a cheeky, troublesome friend.
At noon, after lunch—
They returned to Candace's office, where she handed Nolan a map of the surrounding area with several oases clearly marked.
After a bit of casual conversation, she led them to their lodgings.
It was said that when important guests visited, this was the inn they were placed in—the best Aaru Village had to offer.
Since Nolan and Nilou were friends of Dehya, and Candace also recognized Nolan as the renowned legendary adventurer, she originally wanted to waive the cost and treat them like family.
But Nilou, clearly a modest and thin-skinned girl, insisted on paying.
After all, as a well-known dancer in Sumeru City, it wasn't as though she couldn't afford a few days' stay.
Candace thought it over and chose to respect Nilou's wishes.
That afternoon, Dehya sat down with Candace to discuss how best to allocate the donated funds—ensuring they were used for what the children most urgently needed. Judging by the matter-of-fact tone, it seemed to be a sizeable amount.
Meanwhile, at Nilou's request, Nolan accompanied her on a tour of Aaru Village. Though bustling, it was still only village-sized.
An afternoon was more than enough for the two of them to walk every street.
(End of Chapter)
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