The Desert

In front of the village, they all gathered.

Some carried food, some carried necessities like water to survive the desert to survive, and some animals that can withstand heat to carry all the stuff.

It was pretty cheap since not many people use it.

As for the resource to build things, it's already ordered and they are waiting for them at the edge of the desert.

They don't want to alert those kingdoms.

"you guys ready?" Neal asked everyone, after all, it would be a long journey in the desert.

then all of them nodded.

Everyone was ready to go but they needed to do one thing before they left, they were going to burn the village to delete any evidence and magic remnants.

As people watched their village burn, most of them cried.

It's their home, and now they are going to leave it behind.

"Let's go." Neal didn't cry one bit, but I'm sure he was acting tough, after all, he supported this plan.

they traveled and traveled day by day only resting for a while, as for the elderly they all were given mounts and the young one walked through their way.

There are many monsters on the way, but they were killed easily by Dave and the people.

Before going to the desert Dave taught them self-defense and how to wield a sword.

they wouldn't know what to expect on the road when Dave was busy dealing with enemies they would surely get killed.

****

After a long journey, they finally arrived at the edge of the desert, the desert was vast, and there are settlements near the desert.

They found a place to stay, then Neal and I left to meet the merchant.

They met up in the house of the merchant and told them to go.

Neal opened the door and found the merchant waving at Neal and Dave.

She was shrewd just like other merchants, but she has a very devilish body, blue long hair, blue eyes, and a lovely smile, her name is Jessica Dixon.

From what Neal knew her father was a merchant too, from a young age, she was taught how to become a merchant, she was happy.

But then his father was said to be dead because they got killed by a bandit, Jessica

The moment Dave saw him he became aware of his looks, he was nervous and Dave's heart thumped wildly in my chest whenever he looked at her.

They closed the door and took a seat inside.

The room was not huge, the room was brightly lit and there were foods on the table.

they eat in silence until they are done with eating.

Then the merchant looked at Dave, and then spoke "So is this the descendant of Alfred?"

Does she know me? how?

"Don't worry I didn't check it or anything Alfred was my Father's friend, that makes you my friend." She winked at dave.

this makes Dave look away, this is a new kind of feeling.

"Let's go back to the topic, are you sure you are going to make a kingdom in a desert?" she looked at Dave, she was very serious.

"Yes, and you can't change my mind." Dave said firmly.

"Why do you insist?"

Neal looked at him, then he nodded.

Neal then explained to Jessica, why they want to make a kingdom in the desert.

"That's a good reason, but how did you even know there are things like that?"

As expected from a merchant she is sharp.

He already knows what to answer so he replied "It's from an old book. I don't know the title of it and who writes it but my father found it."

Jessica nodded in understanding.

"Oh and as for the price, your wand is too much, you know, I will give some coins back to you."

to buy everything they needed, Neal sold his most precious wand and that is the Demon wand.

It was made from Fire Demon Bone, it has extremely potent power and very suitable for him because his main spell was fire, but because of his magic core, and they needed money to make it to the desert he sold it.

"That's alright, you can talk with Neal about it" he replied

Then he leaves all the talk to Neal, while he was asleep.

***

The next morning, they departed from the settlement and started their journey once again.

The desert was an unknown place since not many people have entered, there are no records of the beast inside the desert.

it was truly hot, they walked with their face covered, so their eyes don't get sand in them.

Suddenly the sand was trembling.

"Prepare for battle!" Dave shouted to warn other people.

In the team to protect the convoy was protected by 10 wizards and 20 warriors Dave included.

They were hired by Neal from the excess money he got from selling his staff.

The light mage cast a light shield to protect the convoy, and other wizards were preparing a spell to destroy the enemies, while the warrior unleashed their mark and started to look around.

Suddenly 5-meter sandworms were swarming towards them at a fast speed.

all the wizards unleashed their spells like fireball, earth spike, and many more.

The worms were dying at a fast pace, but it's not enough.

so Dave and other warriors charged towards them.

Dave didn't activate his draconic form, he used his great sword to kill multiple sandworms at once.

The other warriors didn't lose out as they slaughtered the sandworms.

Time passes and the worm is finally gone, but then a bigger tremor can be felt.

a 20-meter tall sandworm emerged.

Holy sh*t, the boss came out?

"Use all your power this time!" Dave commanded them.

Then Dave used his Draconic force making him transform into a half-dragon.

and then he used all his strength to open a wound in many places.

The worms didn't stay still, he was constantly attacking the other warrior who got blown, but they were healed by the light mage.

Magic is sure useful...

All of them all constantly attacking the wound that Dave opened, it was a bloody fight.

But it finally ended. The giant sandworm died, but some of the warriors died, and one mage died.

In total, they lost 3 warriors and 1 mage.

They made a grave to those who died.

It was nearing night time so they made tents, and then cooked the sandworms, to not waste food.

Some people were crying because of their dead comrades.

After eating, he goes back to his tent and sleeps.