Okay, let's just take this one step at the time.
After travelling for a long time in which everyone is busy trying to think of a plan in case someone might hallucinate, Lion decided that we should take a rest and signaled for everyone to stop.
He made a huge tent for all of us to stay as we all need to discuss our ideas as it seems that it will take a long time for us to come up with a plan.
While the rest are busy arranging things, including Bubu who turned out to be very helpful as she made it more organized, Ghost and I are busy cooking food for everyone.
Deus managed to made a long table out of magic when he saw all the food Ghost and I prepared.
Bubu carried all the food that we cooked towards the table though she kept tasting it along the way.
Good thing that Ghost and I managed to made more than enough that it isn't a problem if Bubu kept tasting it.
Ghost managed to make several lovely cakes using the recipe I taught him. He was about to decorate it when I stopped him and told him that we should make an icing for the cake.
Without using dairy though.
He did a good job in mixing the ingredients, too good that some of the icing are splattered on his cheek but he doesn't seem to notice.
Hmmm.
It's payback time.
I signaled him to lower his head down as I wanted to tell him something in which he did when suddenly, I licked the icing from his cheek, much to his surprise.
With a grin, I told him that he is tastier than the icing.
He didn't say anything for a long time after that but his face turned so red that the rest of the pack began to get worried that he might be sick in which he simply shook his head and tried to concentrate on making another dessert.
The rest of the pack, seeing that he's okay, continued on what they are doing in which Lion, Alpha and Orm went outside the tent as they tried to see what kind of spells they can use in case we might encounter a mirage.
Deus soon joined them while Bubu followed behind him as she kept on promising Deus that she will not bite him.
Sly also went outside to hunt as we ran out of meat and soon, Ghost and I are left alone inside the tent.
Uh-oh.
I didn't anticipate this.
Silently, I tried to make my way towards the exit when suddenly, I can hear Ghost's footsteps behind me as he asked me why I'm eager to go outside as we aren't done yet with the cooking.
He caught me.
Now, what excuse should I give him?
Ah, I know!
I told him brightly that I'm planning to ask Orm for some ice as I wanted to make a cold dessert as I'm feeling a bit hot.
It was a good excuse except for the fact that I FORGOT that Lion placed an artifact inside the tent that will make the inside cooler despite the intense heat.
Ghost raised his eyebrow as he exclaimed that Lion must've placed a defective artifact as I was feeling hot.
Okay, fine!
I'm out of excuses!
I shrugged at him as I told him that I changed my mind about that and will make some drinks instead.
Ghost chuckled for a bit then suddenly carried me in his arms as he hungrily kissed me.
Oy.
This isn't so bad.
We were soon engrossed with kissing each other when suddenly, we heard someone murmuring something like getting a room or something.
I hastily opened my eyes and glanced around when I saw Deus looking at us with interest.
Ghost simply ignored the remark and started to lick my neck though he lifted one of his hands towards Deus and gave him a obscene gesture with his finger.
Deus simply chuckled and to my horror, sat down and kept on watching us while making all sorts of suggestions to Ghost.
I have to admit that some of his suggestions are kind of interesting but I'm not really comfortable that someone is watching us.
Ghost must've been thinking the same thing as he sighed deeply and placed me down on the floor.
Deus gave a disappointed groan in which we ignored as we continued to make the remaining desserts and drinks.
But I can feel that Ghost took note of his suggestions.
....
Nobody has an idea on what to do in case we might encounter a mirage.
This would be a good time to use the control magic stone but since it was taken away from me, I have to think of another way.
Detection magic?
Nobody knows.
Um. Let me think.
Dispel magic? Ah, wait. I seemed to remember that if it weren't for the magic decoration that Lion have back then, he wouldn't realized that he was kissing Subus instead of me.
Maybe he brought it?
He didn't.
I looked towards Deus, hoping he might have a spell that will help us.
No, he didn't as his type of magic is combative and he uses fire elemental magic.
Bubu?
She doesn't even understand what I'm asking.
Now I'm feeling stressed!
I suddenly remembered that I stole a lot of stuff from the palace in which I looked at Sly brightly, asking him if he brought my bag that contains everything I stole from the palace.
He didn't brought it.
Now I'm in a bad mood.
Bubu tried to calm me in which she brought me a glass of water, telling me to drink it when it suddenly gave me an idea.
Thanks, Bubu!
I gave a chuckle as I embraced Bubu, thanking her for giving me an idea in which she took advantage of the embrace by grinning smugly at everyone.
To keep the peace, I explained to everyone that mirages are usually caused by light bending through layers of air with different temperatures. We need to disrupt it by using elemental magic like water or earth.
Everyone lit up, including Lion in which he repeated what Maelsa said to me back at the palace about how it's a shame that I'm not a magic user.
But it's just simple science.
Oh, well.
Lion knows how to do both earth and water elemental magic. As for Orm, he knows only about water elemental magic. Although Ghost still hasn't mastered his earth elemental magic, this will be a great opportunity for him to practice.
We finally have a solution for the mirage.
....
Finding solutions for hallucinations are more tricky.
No.
It is difficult.
In fact I have no idea at all.
Hmmm.
Maybe convincing the one who is hallucinating that it isn't real.
But what if all of us are hallucinating? Then that would be the end of us.
Wait.
This is good!
I know where we should be going!
Despite feeling shy about what happened with our interrupted moment, I asked Ghost if he knows the nearest city, trading hub or trading post as we might buy an artifact or potion that may help us.
Ghost must've been feeling the same way like me as it took him quite a while to answer as he kept staring at me that Deus elbowed him while grinning at him.
After taking a long breath, he told us that doesn't know.
How dramatic.
Now I'm back to square one.
I glanced at Bubu, hoping to find an inspiration from her but she simply gave me a curious look.
Suddenly, Alpha's ears began to perk up and he hurriedly stood up, same with Lion and Orm.
Soon we began to hear noises from outside the tent in which Lion signaled Ghost to follow him, Orm and Alpha as they went outside the tent.
Sly pulled me towards him in which he told me that there are strangers outside the tent and hurriedly covered me with a cloak.
Oh.
There are deserters outside.
Deus took a peek in which Bubu also followed his action.
Sly held me tightly as he kept on nuzzling me, giving me a gentle bite on my shoulder.
He's trying to mark me.
I gave him a smile as I told him to mark me on my back and to braid my hair so it will be visible as my hair is flowing freely.
His eyes are full of joy as he hurriedly braided my hair then gave me not only one but three marks on the back of my shoulder.
He looked satisfied with what he did when I whispered to him, telling him that the next time we are alone, he can mark me as much as he wants.
He chuckled while he groaned, telling me that he's trying not to lose control but he would definitely make sure to do that soon.
Then to show me that he meant it, he licked me at the back of my neck.
Good thing that Deus and Bubu were too engrossed on what they are looking as I started to moan softly.
Sly then softly kissed me then hurriedly covered my head with the hood of the cloak, telling me that hearing me moan nearly made him lose control.
Though he admitted that it would be a different story when we are alone.
....
Lion, Orm, Alpha and Ghost bought and traded a lot of stuff from the deserters.
Ghost admitted that we were lucky that even though they were wild, they didn't try to attack us and instead, they were helpful as they told Ghost the direction of the nearest city which will take an entire day of travelling non-stop.
That sounds exhausting.
Since there are five magic users in our group, Ghost is considered even though he hasn't mastered his magic yet, Lion decided to make a flying carriage to carry us in going towards the city as having Sly transform into his dragon form is not good because of the intense heat.
After packing all of our stuff, the five of them used their magic together to make a huge, flying carriage that will fit all of us inside. By using their magic together, they will not deplete their energy compared to having only one doing it.
The carriage looks.....
Weird.
The best thing I can describe is it looks like a submarine but with two giant wings on its side.
There's six windows, one on the front and one on the back, with two windows on each side.
And just like the submarine, the door is at the top.
Who's bright idea is this?!
Who designed it??!!!
Even though I asked in a sweet way, nobody admitted who designed the flying submarine.
I have a feeling that they knew my thoughts again based on my facial expressions.
....
Bubu and I had fun looking at the sights together, chattering all sorts of stuff in which the others simply looked at us with amusement.
One of us would pull the other to another side if there's something interesting to see.
It feels good to have a female companion with me while having an adventure. The pack are fun to be with but it's different when it comes to females as there are some things only females can understand.
Bubu managed to behave lately and soon I enjoyed her company, much to the pack's dismay.
After a while, we got bored looking outside in which we decided to have a female talk.
It turned out to be embarrassing for me.
Our carriage-submarine is one big room inside in which we can see everyone and hear whatever they are talking about.
It's Deus who is driving the carriage while Alpha sat beside him as he is the backup driver and will replace Deus when he needs to rest.
Lion and Orm are discussing something in the corner while keeping watch from time to time.
As for Sly and Ghost, they are engrossed in examining the stuff that Ghost bought from the deserters.
Everyone else are busy talking so Bubu and I started to have a casual talk.
That soon turned into a nightmare for me as she began to ask me all sorts of stuff like do I enjoy this and that, making the others stop talking and listen intently in our conversation.
I have a feeling that she and Puma would definitely get along.
And it doesn't help as she began commenting like I should wear much more alluring stuff and that she should be in charge of choosing what to wear next time as she promised that as soon as the other males sees....
I hurriedly covered her mouth as I felt myself turned red.
Please stop talking.
She seemed to calmed down so I removed my hand from her mouth.
I whispered into her ear, telling her that we should talk about those kind of things without anyone listening around in which she sat up and glanced angrily at everyone, making them clear their throats and resume their own conversations.
Suddenly, she squealed and hurriedly went towards the front window in which Alpha tried to remove her as Deus can't see.
With help from Lion and Orm, they managed to remove her and there I saw what Bubu is squealing about.
There is a city that is attached to a staggering sized mountain of rock with all sorts of waterfalls besides the city.
The city is built like it is some sort of a ladder towards the top of the mountain.
Of course there are no trees but the city looks cheerful as so many deserters and other creatures are all over the place. Maybe because it is night-time now that everyone is active as it is quite hot during morning.
Maybe most of those who are living here are night creatures or are used to living at night while sleeping in the morning.
It's not that surprising to me as back at the territory, it was busy regardless if it's day or night as the temperature there is just right.
We finally landed in which Lion made me wear the cloak again and covered my head with the hood as he carried me in his arms.
Despite being covered, it is quite obvious that I'm a female since what male is in his right mind to tenderly carry another male around?
Bl comes into my mind though those kind of partners isn't available yet in this world.
As for Bubu, everyone reluctantly agreed to cover her to prevent any trouble from happening. Since I'm being covered, Bubu doesn't mind being covered too as she thinks it must be some sort of a game.
Orm, Alpha and Deus then placed a spell that will prevent Bubu from going too far from them.
After selling our carriage to a very interested onlooker, everyone is in cheerful spirits as we earned quite a huge amount from it that Lion decided that all of us will stay at the inn to rest, much to everyone's relief.
....
We stayed there for several days as the males decided to train themselves as they found a training ground of some sorts in the city.
As for Bubu and me, we were stuck back at the inn though Lion placed a strong protection magic inside our room.
It was supposed to be a good plan until Bubu nullified the magic that Lion placed inside our room.
I thought that she doesn't have any magic?!
Bubu looked surprised as she stared at her hands in which we suddenly heard the door being opened.
Ah, this sucks.
Bubu began to snarl as her nails from her hands suddenly grew longer.
I positioned myself into an attack stance as I prepared myself to attack whoever is trying to get inside.
To my horror, several huge wild deserters went inside our room.
I made a quick estimation on their heights in which they seemed to have the same height as Alpha. With that information, I instantly knew that Bubu and I don't stand a chance.
Back during our training at the palace, I had some difficulty though I managed to defend myself against Alpha. But Alpha is only one creature while Bubu and I are up against 7, 8, 9, 10...
10 wild deserters!
All are huge and both of us are shorter than them. Like wayyyy shorter.
Bubu is always the embodiment of chaos in which she instantly launched an attack against them while I tried my best to use some of my best martial arts attack moves that I learned.
We managed to have a bit of success before both of us were forced to drink a vial that made me feel dizzy for quite sometime. As for Bubu, she got knocked out instantly.
Curses.
She really is the embodiment of chaos as she didn't even know that she can nullify magic.
Maybe that's the reason why Orm fainted during our first stop.
The problem is she has no idea on how to do it.
Despite being dizzy, I tried my best to fight them as I needed more time for the males to come back here.
Lion!
But despite my efforts, I later succumbed to the effects of the vial but not before intensionally leaving one of my earrings on the floor.
Not again.
I hated being kidnapped.
I should try my best not to let negative emotions get the best of me or else, if there's a demon watching over me, it will have a feast of a lifetime.
Demons!
I forgot about my investigation!
Those were my thoughts before I passed out.