Chapter 60: Heat Stroke

(Chapter 60 Heat Stroke)

"Chief... I'm sorry..."

Hatsume's voice was laced with regret as she trudged along on foot, while the rest of the caravan rode on horses or sat comfortably in carriages. Her hands were bound with a rope, held securely by Rohan, who was riding comfortably on his horse, enforcing the punishment for her reckless actions at the giant Ruin Guard earlier. The harsh desert heat bore down on her, intensifying the exhaustion of the long trek. Despite the sweltering temperature adding to her discomfort, Hatsume accepted her punishment without complaint, fully aware of the seriousness of her mistake. Yet, despite everything, she couldn't help but savor the memory of blasting that hilichurl camp.

In the end, their efforts yielded nothing of value from the giant Ruin Guard. Disappointed but undeterred, the caravan regrouped and began their journey once more, setting their sights on the vast expanse of the Hypostyle Desert.

"Brother... Don't you think you're being too harsh on her?"

Penance asked softly, riding on the back of Tempest's horse. Her gaze shifted toward Hatsume, who was trudging along on foot. Concern flickered in her eyes as she observed the inventor's weary steps and the rope binding her hands.

"Penance, she literally created a crater in the middle of the desert, I wouldn't be surprised if that explosion was heard across the entire nation."

Tempest glanced at his sister, his expression serious, as he reminded her of the magnitude of Hatsume's reckless actions.

"I mean yeah, that was kinda reckless, but look at her, brother. Did you ever stop to think about how she might feel? And honestly, did you spare a thought for those hilichurls?"

Penance conceded, her gaze shifting to Hatsume, who kept her head lowered against the scorching sun.

"And I'm going to be honest with you, that was quite a sight to see!"

Penance said, her tone lightening with a touch of humor. She couldn't help but recall the dramatic spectacle of Hatsume's actions, finding some amusement in the memory.

Tempest sighed deeply before responding, his voice carrying a note of resignation.

"Five more minutes."

"Thanks, brother!"

Penance said with genuine gratitude as she wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug from the back. The unexpected gesture brought a smile to Tempest's face, his stern demeanor softening in response to her affection.

"You can do it, Hatsume!"

Penance shouted with encouragement, her voice carrying a note of cheerfulness. Hatsume looked up, meeting Penance's gaze. A broad smile spread across her face as she responded with a confident thumbs-up. The gesture. combined with her radiant smile.

'Ah, I forgot to mention this, Tempest. The ability you have to control Pyro, it's not quite a Vision, is it? I have observed that your control over the Pyro element seems to surpass that of a typical Vision holder. I sense that something about it is different, perhaps more powerful.'

Nahida's voice resonated in Tempest's mind, her tone thoughtful and inquisitive.

'Mm, you're correct, I bear no Vision, the one hanging in my uniform, is called a Delusion. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what sets them apart from Visions. A Fatuus gifted it to me, she even tried to persuade me to join their ranks at one point.'

Tempest replied to Nahida.

'Yes, I recall that particular memory of yours. You have a rather negative opinion of the Fatui, perceiving them as people who would betray and abandon others once their usefulness is gone.'

Nahida's response conveyed a clear understanding of Tempest's perspective, reflecting on his distrust of the Fatui.

'It's not merely an opinion, Young Pasha, it's a fact. Once you encounter someone from the Fatui, you can sense their tone, which may sound as sweet as honey, but in reality, it is laced with venom.'

Tempest's reply was firm and resolute, reflecting his deep-seated mistrust of the Fatui.

'I see...'

Nahida replied, her voice trailing off as she fell silent once more.

"We are currently approaching the Sands of Al-Azif. The road will soon lead us to the Passage of Ghouls, and from there, we'll be even closer to the Hypostyle Desert."

Cyrus said, his gaze focused intently on the map spread before him. He was riding alongside Cyno on his sumpter beast.

"Far to the west from here lies the nation of Natlan."

Cyrus remarked, his eyes still on the map as he addressed Tempest.

"Have you ever been to Natlan yourself?"

His question was thoughtful, aimed at gauging Tempest's knowledge of the distant land.

"No, I've never left Fontaine throughout my entire life, until now, that is. However, my Teacher once traveled there and told me that the natives are perpetually engaged in conflict with one another. It seems to be a land where strife is a constant."

Tempest's response conveyed both his lack of personal experience with Natlan and the insights he had gathered from his Teacher's accounts.

"I see."

"Brother! Five minutes have passed!"

Penance called out, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. She glanced at Tempest, reminding him of his earlier promise as she tried to gauge his reaction. Her tone was a blend of impatience and concern, signaling that it was time to reconsider the situation with Hatsume.

"Rohan."

"Got it, Your Grace."

Rohan responded with a nod of understanding. He dismounted from his horse and approached Hatsume, carefully untying the rope that bound her hands. With a look of pity, he handed her a canteen of water, offering a moment of relief from the harsh desert heat.

"Ahh, finally!"

Hatsume said with a rasped voice, her relief palpable. She took a long drink from the canteen, savoring the cool water as it refreshed her parched throat. Removing her hat, she poured the remaining water over her head, letting it cascade down her face and neck, offering some respite from the relentless desert heat.

'Tempest, please keep a watchful eye on her. I know she is one of your valuable inventors, and she is indeed a very bright one. However, with her reckless and explosive tendencies, I fear that she may leave another crater in the desert if left unchecked. Please keep a close eye on her and ensure she does not go overboard.'

Nahida's voice conveyed a sense of urgency and caution, reflecting her concerns about Hatsume's unpredictable nature.

'I promise, Young Pasha.'

Tempest replied with a sense of determination, assuring Nahida that he would keep a close watch on Hatsume.

'Thank you.'

Nahida responded, her tone reflecting her appreciation and relief.

"Hatsume."

"Chief?"

Hatsume turned to face Tempest, her expression attentive as she awaited his instructions.

"One more instance of reckless behavior, and the deal is off. If you attempt something like that again, we'll have no choice but to leave you behind in the desert. Now, return to your Siege Engine and stay out of trouble."

Tempest's words carried a clear warning, emphasizing the seriousness of the consequences if she did not adhere to his instructions.

"Got it, chief!"

Hatsume responded with a sharp salute, her demeanor appearing relatively unfazed by Tempest's stern warning. Despite her nonchalant attitude, she acknowledged his directive and resolved to comply with his instructions.

"Hold on! I'm coming with you."

Penance said, her eyes darting to her brother for permission. Tempest gave a nod of approval, and she smiled in response. Quickly dismounting from the horse, she hurried over to join Hatsume at the Siege Engine, eager to accompany her new friend.

The sun was starting to take its toll, and the already scorching heat was becoming increasingly oppressive. The caravan horses were visibly weary, their signs of fatigue evident as they struggled to maintain their pace under the relentless glare of the desert sun.

"How long have we been traveling?"

Tempest inquired, turning to Falric, who was riding alongside him. His voice carried a note of curiosity as he sought to gauge their progress and the remaining distance they had to cover.

"Five hours, Your Grace. We should give the horses a rest. It might be more practical to resume our journey once night falls."

Falric replied, his tone pragmatic as he assessed the situation.

"You're right, but traveling at night poses its own dangers."

Tempest acknowledged, his gaze sweeping over the harsh desert landscape.

"However, the sun is becoming a significant issue here."

He raised his hand in a clear signal to halt the caravan, and after a brief moment of hesitation, the entire convoy complied, coming to a stop as they prepared to address the situation.

"How about we take a break over there, Your Grace?"

Rohan suggested, pointing to a rock formation in the distance. The cliff cast a generous shadow, offering a potential refuge from the relentless sun. His proposal aimed to provide the caravan with some much-needed respite and relief from the sweltering heat.

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The caravan came to a halt, finding refuge beneath the cliff that offered a welcome cool shadow. Quickly, the caravan members set up tents to provide shelter from the blazing sun. Tempest agreed with Falric's suggestion, deciding that it would be best to resume their journey once the temperature cooled and nightfall descended.

"You know, Cyno here can actually crack a few jokes. Cyno, why don't you share one with us?"

Cyrus said, placing a hand on Cyno's shoulder. Inside the tent, Tempest, his sister, and their captain and commander sat around a table where empty plates of food were scattered, a sign that they had just finished their meal. The mood was light, and everyone turned their attention to Cyno, curious about the humor he might offer.

"Teacher..."

Cyno began, his tone laced with a hint of reluctance.

"Go on, Cyno."

Cyrus urged with a smile, clearly eager for the joke. Cyno sighed in response, shaking his head slightly, before he began to speak.

"Knock, knock."

Cyno began, his tone playful. A brief silence fell over the group as they waited for the punchline. After a moment, Penance broke the stillness with a curious tone.

"Who's there?"

"Tank."

Cyno said, and Penance replied shortly.

"Tank who?"

She asked, leaning in slightly as the rest of the group watched with interest.

"You're welcome."

Cyno replied with a stoic expression, the punchline delivered with a perfectly straight face. The entire group fell into a brief, stunned silence as they processed the joke.

"Mmph."

Tempest couldn't help but smile slightly, bobbing his head in a mix of amusement and acknowledgment. Meanwhile, the rest of the group, though appreciative of Cyno's effort, found the joke rather bland.

'Hehe, that was funny.'

Nahida said through Tempest's mind.

"That was the weirdest joke, I've ever heard..."

Penance leaned closer to Tempest to whisper in his ear.

Suddenly, the entire group inside the tent was startled by the distant shouts of Tempest's forces. The raised voices, filled with urgency and alarm, cut through the ambient sounds of the camp, drawing everyone's attention.

"You two, with me."

Tempest commanded firmly, addressing Rohan and Falric. Their expressions shifted to serious determination as they quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

"Penance, stay with those two."

Tempest instructed his sister, gesturing towards Cyno and Cyrus. His tone was steady and authoritative, ensuring she understood the importance of keeping them safe and secure while he and the others addressed the disturbance. Penance nodded, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and resolve.

Tempest, Rohan, and Falric exited the tent and were immediately taken aback by the chaotic scene unfolding outside. Tempest's men were engaged in a fierce battle, unleashing a barrage of harpoon guns at a massive, green, worm-like creature, a Wenut. The creature writhed and thrashed under the relentless assault.

"Heave!"

Hatsume shouted, her voice ringing with determination as she maneuvered the Siege Engine. With a great burst of power, the machine pulled with all its might, dragging the massive Wenut out of the sands. The ground rumbled and the air crackled with the force of the effort, as the creature's writhing form was slowly brought to the surface.

'I can't watch this...'

Nahida's voice echoed in Tempest's mind, filled with sorrow as she struggled to witness the Wenut's plight. The agony of seeing such a majestic creature being forced from its natural habitat weighed heavily on her.

'Sorry, but it seemed like it attacked us first.'

Tempest responded to Nahida, his gaze fixed on the scene before him. He observed the wreckage of broken Mekas scattered nearby and the immense effort required to extract the Wenut from the sands. Despite the distressing situation, Tempest's forces, aided by Hatsume's machine, managed to subdue the creature with great effort. The colossal Wenut was finally pulled from its sandy refuge.

"That creature kinda looks like a squid, up for some calamari, Your Grace?"

Rohan remarked with a smirk, turning to Tempest.

"No, thank you."