Supreme Magus novel Chapter 3997

Chapter 3997: Exotic Beauty (Part 2)

***

As Friya approached the oasis, she used Life Vision multiple times, but she failed to spot any sign of the light-distorting array that hid the village.

’Lith was right.’ She thought. ’The cloaking field shrouds the other magical formations, fooling Life Vision, while the holograms mess with my regular sight. Now that the outlaws have stopped moving, the haze that betrayed their presence is completely gone.

’The only way a Phoenix patrolling the Desert at high speed has to find the Yellow Wind tribe is to crash land right on their heads.’

’Be ready for anything.’ Nalrond said via a mind link that ran below the sand. ’No matter if they attack us the moment we set foot in their village or if they play nice, play dumb until we get them to lower their guard and focus on us.

’If we spook them, they’ll use the prisoners as meat shields and things will get much more complicated.’

’Right back at you, pretty boy.’ Friya replied. ’I’m my mother’s daughter, while your poker face needs wo-’

She inwardly thanked Jirni for her lessons and Lith for all the secrets that over the years he had asked Friya to keep. Without them, her jaw would have hit the ground and started digging.

Every scenario Friya and Nalrond had prepared for paled in comparison with reality.

They had expected the veil of the light-distorting array to fall abruptly and be met by swords, smiles, or blazing spells. They had to beg for mercy, talk, or dodge in a lucky save in reply, and only a split second to react and make it look believable

So, when Friya and Nalrond entered the village and nothing happened, they had a hard time keeping a neutral expression

The magical formations opened in front of them, forming a corridor that allowed the lost travelers entry while also keeping them out of the arrays and preserving the illusion of the empty oasis.

Nalrond’s eyes furrowed in surprise, but no one noticed thanks to the headgear that covered most of his face.

’What’s going on? Where is everyone? Did they escape?’ He asked, huffing and puffing as he trudged forward.

***

The people of the Yellow Wind tribe were just as flabbergasted as the lost travelers and made no effort to hide their disbelief. The outlaws had followed Friya’s and Nalrond’s slow advance with drumming hearts and cold sweat running down their spines.

They expected a large caravan to follow the two strangers, afraid that Salaark had changed the oasis rotation schedule and that a tribe guided by a powerful Feather would seize the Yellow Wind’s oasis, leaving them stranded for days if not weeks.

Sure, they could fight, but they couldn’t win.

The moment Salaark lost contact with one of her Feathers, her wrath would fly to their last known position on fiery wings and turn everything to ashes, no matter if the Feather was dead or just trapped inside a dimensional sealing array.

The fear turned into relief when no more strangers appeared on the horizon, yet their appearance raised many questions. No one would be foolish enough to take a stroll in the Blood Desert, and according to the scout, there was something wrong with them.

’Loot. Big loot. Big, big loot. Has Lomhar lost his mind, or is he suffering from heatstroke at the worst time possible?’ The three leaders thought in unison while staring at the scout flapping his arms like a hysterical bird.

’Zero?’ Hassar scoffed. ’This is the Blood Desert. Even the smallest insect is venomous!’

’Suckers.’ Friya thought, glad to have altered her hair and eye color according to the Blood Desert’s most exotic beauty standard.

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