The desert dust still danced in the air as the two groups faced each other in tense silence.
Zeo stood firmly at the front, one hand slightly raised to hold Ravyn and Alice behind him. The red-black robes of the opposing group rustled softly in the wind, and sand circled around the feet of the elemental wielder.
"If you don't step back, we won't hesitate to act," said the robed man. His voice was sharp, calm, and filled with superiority. "This is our claimed territory, and this oasis belongs to us now."
Zeo narrowed his eyes. "We didn't know there were territorial lines in the desert."
"And you think ignorance absolves you from the consequences?" sneered the sand user, his tone laced with mockery.
Ravyn scoffed. "You're acting way too bold for someone living in a wasteland."
Members of the robed group started to move, forming a defensive line. A ripple of energy began to build in the air. The tension escalated.
"Who are you?" Zeo asked, still trying to keep the situation from escalating.
The leader of the group glanced sharply at him. "Us? Who hasn't heard of the Valerat Party in Romanian territory? You must be from some tiny place if that name doesn't ring a bell."
Zeo exchanged glances with Ravyn. Neither of them had heard of it.
"Valerat Party...?" Ravyn muttered. "Are they supposed to be important?"
A few members of the other party looked offended.
"How dare a lowly demi-human speak so casually!"
"You've got a lot of nerve challenging us."
Energy flared. They raised light weapons—curved knives, staves, even chains that danced in the wind.
But before the first blow was struck, Alice stepped forward. She slowly raised her hand and removed her hood.
Sunlight touched her dust-streaked face. Her hair fell loosely down, and her calm eyes looked directly at the leader of the other party.
For a moment, silence replaced the tension.
Someone in the Valerat Party gasped. "Wait… Isn't that… Golem Master Alice?!"
"The Golem Controller from Leymora… Alice… Alice Marakhat?" another whispered in disbelief.
Even the leader tensed. His eyes scanned her face, frozen.
"You're… Alice? But… the rumors said you died… back then, in the Forbidden Forest…"
Alice dipped her head slightly. "Rumors often scream louder than the truth."
"How… is this possible…?"
"Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to revisit unpleasant memories," Alice said calmly. "My friends and I only want a place to rest and a drink of water. Nothing more."
Silence hung heavy. Their stares were still filled with questions, but no one dared to press further.
Finally, the leader—a tall man with dark hair tied back and a half-covered face—realized pushing further would be unwise. He stepped forward.
"If you truly are Alice Marakhat… then all of you are our guests," he said. "This oasis can be shared… for now."
He turned to the sand user and gave a subtle nod to stand down.
But the sand wielder still looked at Zeo with clear disdain. He walked up slowly, smiling with smug confidence.
"You're lucky. If it weren't for Miss Alice, your body would already be buried beneath the scorching sands."
Zeo didn't respond. He simply stared back, emotionless. But in his mind, he committed the man's face and voice to memory—just in case.
Ravyn looked ready to snap back, but Alice gently touched her arm.
"We've already secured shade and water. Picking a fight won't end well, not in our current condition," Alice said softly.
The Valerat members slowly stepped aside, granting them access to the shaded area near the water.
Zeo and his team finally sat beneath a desert palm. They refilled their water supplies, washed their faces, and let the world go quiet for a moment.
But they all knew…
This wasn't the end of the conflict.
Just a pause—before the next storm.
---
Nightfall settled quietly over the desert. The oasis, nearly a battleground earlier, had turned into a peaceful rest stop. A small campfire flickered gently, illuminating weary yet somewhat relieved faces.
Desert rabbit was being roasted over the flames, releasing the mouthwatering scent of sizzling meat. Some Valerat members now sat loosely around Zeo's group. The daytime tension had started to ease, replaced by light conversation and occasional laughter.
Alice sat near the center, cutting pieces of rabbit meat. One of the Valerat members asked carefully, "So, you're really going back to your hometown?"
Alice nodded slowly. "Yes. I think… my time as an adventurer has run its course."
The atmosphere dimmed a bit. Some looked visibly disappointed, though they tried not to show it. Alice knew she was still wanted—many parties and guilds had once fought to recruit her.
"I just want a quiet life," she added.
Karim, the Valerat leader with dark tied-back hair, crossed his arms and looked at her intently. "We've all heard the stories of what happened in the Forbidden Forest… or at least, the rumors. If you've decided to retire, Miss Alice, then we'll respect that."
Alice gave a faint smile. She glanced at Zeo, then at Ravyn—who was fast asleep, hugging her small bag, hair messy, face half-covered.
"Those two… they…" a Valerat member began.
Alice chuckled softly. "They're the ones who saved me from the Forbidden Forest. If it weren't for them… I might really be a ghost like everyone thought."
Still, Alice withheld their names. She didn't feel it was right to reveal their identities without their permission. To her, that respect mattered more than social niceties.
Meanwhile, across the fire, the sand wielder watched Ravyn with a different look. It wasn't just curiosity—his gaze was charged with something more… carnal. He squinted as Ravyn stirred in her sleep, ears flicking from the heat, her expression unusually cute.
"Heh…" he muttered. "If only she wasn't part of that group…"
Elsewhere near the fire, Karim's eyes lingered on the fire-doll necklace hanging from Zeo's neck. His expression tightened slightly as he sensed an unusual aura from the item. Dangerous. Alive. But he asked nothing—just filed the observation away.
Then, Zeo stood.
He felt a faint vibration at his back—his back seal was reacting.
"Excuse me, I need a moment," he said briefly.
He opened his cloak slightly and removed the fire-doll necklace from his neck, gently placing it around Ravyn's sleeping neck. It glowed briefly as it touched her skin, then settled quietly.
"Alice, watch Ravyn for a bit."
Zeo walked away from the camp, stepping outside the reach of the firelight. The desert night wind blew gently, carrying sand and chill.
He stopped atop a rocky plateau.
Then… he appeared.
As always, a blinding light marked his arrival. The Agent.
"Long time no see, Zeo," said the Agent, his voice neutral but oddly familiar.
Zeo looked up calmly. "Finally decided to show up."
The Agent nodded. "Your first mission… forming a party… is complete. That's why I'm here."
Zeo didn't respond immediately. He sighed softly.
"It's time for your next mission."
Zeo listened carefully.
Unbeknownst to them… behind a large rock, a hidden figure sharpened both ears and focus.
Someone was eavesdropping—on a conversation no one was supposed to hear.
---