Following the elders' proclamation, they only had about a week to prepare. Osmal was one of the 'lucky few' on the first caravans out. At least he wasn't at the bottom of the totem pole. Many of the lower ranking members were dispatched on the third day.
The perks of his middling status, he supposed. The week passed in a flurry, with Osmal, desperately trying to eke out every last bit of progress he could. Like using his ill gotten gains. Unfortunately, he was having little progress when practicing the smoldering phoenix technique.
His core was having trouble providing enough energy to power it. Even so, there was some progress. Wherever he punched, now there was some smoke at least.
A week was just not enough time to fully master a new technique. He would have to learn on the fly. With the latest caravan being ready from the nearest city in their territory, Osmal, and ten others set out.
Upon arrival a day after leaving the mountain, they joined in, supporting the soldiers already there. Most of the soldiers were locals with some mercenaries to bolster their numbers. Their equipment was decent, but their cultivation was garbage.
Most of them couldn't even be considered a practitioner, their cores riddled with cracks. In his mind's eye, some of the soldiers gave off the same dull glow as the regular caravan workers.
Only the captain, and the caravan master had slightly better foundations. Even they would struggle to meet the minimum threshold to become an outer member of the sect.
Judging by their disgusted gazes, the other sect members in his group had the same thoughts. The caravan master gave them all an obsequious smile, bowing low.
"Esteemed guests of the Blue Springs sect. I am Caravan Master Polik. It is our honour to have you accompany us. Do make yourselves comfortable. We will depart towards Fort Thragg in a couple hours,"
They met with the stern faced captain of the escort not long after. The man offered an appropriate nod, before suggesting that they split up amongst the soldiers to properly defend the caravan.
Osmal could tell the others chafed at being ordered around by someone inferior in strength. For his part, Osmal took his posting in stride, shoring up the rear without complaint.
Many of the others thought they should lead the spear. He could see Ipan arguing with the captain at that moment.
"The middle of the group is such an undignified position. Put me at the front," Ipan demanded.
The captain remained remarkably calm. "The center is one of the most vulnerable sections of the caravan. Without the young masters aide, I would have to redirect another five soldiers from the front," the captain replied patiently.
"Then do it. I'm not a weakling, who needs to hide behind your skirts," Ipan spat, as if being relegated to the center was a direct insult to his honour.
Osmal tuned them out as he made his way along the twenty wagon strong caravan. The rear of any large group was oftentimes the most boring, but it was a vital role.
Ipan might chafe at the bit, but Osmal understood the captain wasn't trying to slight them. Captain Ustad seemed like a practical man, and wouldn't stupidly put them where they wouldn't be useful.
He wasn't the only one dispatched to the rear, with three other colleagues following suit. Pilo, Vulsa, and Winser. The three were of middling status like himself. They were of his generation, but he only knew them in passing.
Winser gave him a suspiciously cheerful smile.
"Osmal. I take it you are with us?" Winser asked.
"Yes.. I guess we will be working together for the next few weeks," Osmal drawled.
Vulsa snorted derisively, glancing at the guards nearby. .
"I can't believe we have to babysit the caravan. I guess competence is difficult to find these days," Vulsa said.
The dozen or so soldiers took offence to her words, glowering at her.
Vulsa gave them an embarrassed look. "Oh, oops, I said that out loud?" she said.
The first day didn't go too badly, with the caravan traveling through regularly patrolled regions.
By the end of the day, they pitched camp in a ring. The night was quiet. The next day was not as much. Two wounded had been sent to be carried by their wagons.
Not injured by monsters, but from an unfortunate accident. Osmal didn't know the details, but, judging by the angry glares thrown his way from the soldiers at the back, his fellow sect members were responsible.
He was honestly surprised it took this long. So much for seamless collaboration.
From where he sat on the wagon in the rear, Osmal took in the distant mountains. It was a region of the expanse called the wilds. As its name implied, the wilds were unclaimed mountains. It was a vast swath of mountains and jungle that made up as much land as the sect and nearby empire combined.
The mountains abounded with ancient ruins with untapped wealth hidden, rich lands that hadn't seen humanity's touch in centuries, ripe for the taking.
The world's ley lines surged beneath the blade mountains, growing closer to the surface the deeper you ventured into the wilds. The energy density was in another league, rivaling the sect's mountain only a few days in.
A perfect environment to grow rare herbs, form energy dense ore. All these were good things, making it prime real estate. The only problem was, it was dominated by monsters. It was a place with both incredible danger and equally juicy opportunities.