Chapter 65: Tanit Camps

(Chapter 65 Tanit Camps)

"Mm..."

Faruzan slowly opened her eyes, her vision gradually coming into focus. She found herself lying on the floor of one of Tempest's carriages within the caravan, the gentle swaying and rhythmic motion beneath her indicating they were on the move. As her senses returned, she took in her surroundings, trying to piece together how she had ended up here. The soft creaking of the carriage wheels and the muffled sounds of the outside world seeped into her consciousness, reminding her that she was far from where she last remembered being.

"Hey, you're finally awake."

Tempest remarked, his voice calm as he sat on the bench of the carriage, casually eating from steelware. Faruzan's gaze slowly turned toward him, her eyes still adjusting as she took in the sight of him sitting there, seemingly unfazed by the chaos she faintly remembered.

"How... How long was I out?"

Faruzan asked, her voice weak as she struggled to sit up. She winced slightly, her body still aching from whatever ordeal she had just been through. Her eyes searched the small interior of the carriage, trying to piece together what had happened and where she was.

"Two days, you should lay your head down, we're approaching our destination later."

Faruzan ignored his suggestion and slowly stood up, her curiosity getting the better of her. She moved toward the carriage window and peered outside. The scene that greeted her was both awe-inspiring and surreal. Under the cloak of night, the caravan moved steadily forward, flanked by riders on horseback and dog-like Mekas that marched in disciplined formation. Numerous other carriages trailed alongside them, their wheels creaking softly against the rough terrain. In the distance, Hatsume's imposing Steam Engines loomed, their metal frames glinting under the moonlight as they guarded the sides and rear of the convoy.

"Where are we going?"

Faruzan asked, her gaze shifting from the window to Tempest, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Tanit Camps. We're hoping to secure a place to sleep tonight and perhaps restock our supplies. If they don't let us in, well, I suppose we'll have to make do with sleeping in the middle of nowher-"

*Grumble!*

Tempest's words were abruptly cut off by the loud rumble of Faruzan's stomach. She looked slightly embarrassed, her cheeks flushing a faint pink as she glanced away, trying to mask her discomfort.

"Of course, you're hungry, here."

Tempest said, noticing her discomfort. He reached over and handed her a steel tupperware filled with a variety of seafood delicacies from Fontaine. The aroma of the freshly prepared meal wafted through the carriage, making her stomach growl again, but this time, she couldn't help but give a small, grateful smile as she accepted the food.

"Thank you..."

Faruzan murmured, her voice soft with gratitude as she accepted the meal. Without wasting any time, she began to dig into the food, the rich flavors immediately filling her senses.

"Do you remember anything, before you fainted?"

Tempest asked.

"My memories are hazy..."

Faruzan began, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and lingering fear.

"The only thing I recall vividly is how close I came to succumbing to madness. The voices of the ancient runes on the walls, they seemed to mock my plight, whispering their taunts into the very core of my being..."

She paused, her hand slightly trembling as she set down her utensils.

"But... there is one moment that stands out clearly. I remember you, Tempest. You smashed your way out of the chamber... With sheer brute force, no less. It was like watching a force of nature break free."

She slowed down on her food, the memories weighing heavily on her as she spoke.

"I see, you don't have to push yourself to remember. I have good news for you though."

Tempest said as he pointed his finger to the Anemo Vision attached to Faruzan's dress.

"Hm?"

Faruzan murmured, her curiosity piqued as she reached down and gently grasped the Anemo Vision on her dress. She held it up, gazing at it with a mix of wonder and confusion, trying to piece together what had happened while she was unconscious.

"Eighty-eight years... I've spent all that time trapped in that chamber. Perhaps the gods decided to take pity on me, and granted me this as a reward for my endurance... Or as a reminder of everything I've lost."

Faruzan murmured, her voice tinged with a bittersweet melancholy. She traced her fingers over the Anemo Vision, the soft glow reflecting in her eyes.

"Cyrus told me about you. He spoke of your remarkable achievements as a distinguished scholar from the Akademiya, a century ago. You were one of the pioneers who established Ancient Mechanics as a recognized field of study. However, he also mentioned that much of your research has since been overshadowed and rendered obsolete."

Tempest's gaze was steady as he assessed Faruzan's reaction to this revelation.

'I need her... She could prove invaluable. Her extensive knowledge of ancient Sumeru machinery might be the key to perfecting the Ghost Program. I could say Hatsume is the smartest person of today, and she could be the smartest person in history... Bringing her back to Fontaine with me could be a game-changer for our research and future advancements.'

Tempest's thoughts were resolute as he contemplated the potential Faruzan held.

"Is that so? What a pity... I painstakingly spent years on my research and spent countless sleepless nights refining formulas... Only to have my work deemed obsolete and irrelevant by this generation..."

Faruzan said, her voice heavy with a sense of defeat. She set aside the empty tupperware and lowered her head, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Not just my family, but my friends as well... They're probably all gone by now. The very thing I took such pride in has been rendered obsolete and taken away from me. I can't help but wonder, what is there left for me now?"

Faruzan said, her voice tinged with grief and a deep sense of loss. Her eyes remained downcast as she struggled with the weight of her sorrow.

"I can offe-"

Before Tempest could finish his sentence, the carriage came to a halt, signaling that they had reached their destination. The sudden stop interrupted his words, and the motion of the carriage ceased, leaving a moment of silence as they prepared to disembark.

*Knock knock.*

"Your Grace, we've arrived, and we got company."

Falric announced, his voice echoing through the door of the carriage. His tone was both informative and slightly urgent, signaling that they should prepare to disembark and address the unexpected guests.

"You should rest for now. We can continue our conversation tomorrow, I'll make sure one of my knights brings you something to eat, just in case the food earlier wasn't enough. Please, take it easy and recover your strength."

Tempest advised Faruzan as he rose from his seat.

"Yeah... I... I suppose I'll do that..."

Faruzan replied, her voice soft as she wrapped herself in the blanket. She settled back down on the mattress.

Tempest nodded in acknowledgment before stepping out of the carriage. The cool night air greeted him as he emerged.

"What's the situation?"

Tempest asked Falric.

"We have some Eremites at the entrance. They've requested to see you before making a decision on whether we can settle here for the night."

Falric informed him.

"Hm, lead me there then."

Tempest instructed. Falric nodded in acknowledgment and began to guide him toward the meeting point. As they moved through the encampment, Tempest's men and knights offered respectful bows, acknowledging his presence with brief, courteous gestures.

Upon arriving at the meeting point, Tempest found Rohan and his accompanying knights deep in negotiation with a muscular man. The old man appeared battle-hardened by years in the harsh desert environment, his face lined with scars. Beside him stood a woman with striking red hair, who Tempest presumed to be his daughter.

"I'll take it from here, Rohan."

Tempest said to Rohan and he nodded in response, the knights made way for him, and Tempest found himself face to face with the old man, who he presumed was the chieftain.

"I only ask to spend the night here, for me and my men. Name your price."

Tempest said, his tone calm and respectful as he addressed the burly man. His gaze was steady, conveying both authority and sincerity. He awaited the chieftain's response, prepared to negotiate terms for their temporary stay while ensuring his men were well-accommodated.

"Ah, well, if it isn't the man whom other tribes call the reincarnation of Al-Ahmar himself, quite hard to believe,"

The muscular man scoffed, his tone a mix of skepticism and grudging respect. He paused, studying Tempest with a critical eye before continuing.

"My offer is simple, hmph, I'll provide your men with shelter for the night, but in return, you spend a night with my Falcon here. Whether you truly are the reincarnation of Al-Ahmar or not, I can sense the sun's aura radiating from you, and I suspect your offspring will be quite valuable."

The muscular man said with a smirk as he gestured towards the woman at his side, her red hair gleaming in the dim light. Tempest's expression darkened as he took in the implications of the man's words.

"I'm not mating with your daughter... She's probably much older than me..."

Tempest said firmly, his gaze steady.

"Daughter? Ha! Babel here is not my daughter, she's my Falcon, and she does everything I say whether she likes it or not."

The muscular man said with a hearty laugh.

Tempest sighed deeply before snapping his fingers. His knights promptly brought forth a large chest, filled to the brim with glistening Mora.

"Will this suffice as payment for your hospitality?"

Tempest asked, opening the chest to reveal its wealth.

"Oh! Hmm, very well. You've secured yourself a deal. This will ensure that both you and your men are well accommodated tonight. You and your entourage are welcome to stay as long as you need."

The muscular man said, his eyes gleaming as he examined the Mora. He held a handful of coins between his fingertips, savoring their weight.

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"I need a new, Akasha Terminal..."

Tempest muttered to himself as he lay down on the bed in the room provided by the Tanit. The room was modest but comfortable, a small respite from the day's events. As he stared at the ceiling, he couldn't help but miss the late-night conversations he used to have with Nahida.

*Two Hours Later...*

"Mmpf..."

empest grumbled, his senses gradually stirring from sleep. He felt a weight pressing down on him and heard the faint, unsettling sound of his belt being unfastened.

"Shhh, just relax… I'll make you feel really good~ Just let me handle everything…"

A soft, enticing voice whispered, accompanied by a delicate hand caressing his cheek. Tempest's eyes fluttered open, and he was met with the sight of the woman from earlier, the one who had stood beside the muscular man. She was now perched atop him, her intentions unmistakably clear. As he began to fully awaken, confusion and alarm quickly replaced the remnants of sleep.

"What the fuck?!"

"My~ you're quite muscular for your age... Much more than Azariq..."

Babel purred, her hands still lingering on his chest. Instantly, Tempest's anger flared. With a swift, forceful movement, he pushed her aside, his face etched with a mixture of fury and disbelief. The realization of what was happening and the audacity of the situation drove him to act decisively, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity.

"Get out!"

Tempest shouted.

"My~ Calm-"

"GET OUT!"

Tempest bellowed with intense authority, his voice carrying a finality that left no room for argument. Babel hesitated for a moment, clearly intimidated by the sheer force of his command. With a reluctant nod, she quickly complied, retreating from the room as Tempest's anger simmered. He was resolutely uninterested in such advances and had no patience for this kind of intrusion.

Tempest glanced at the mirror, his breathing coming in ragged, uneven gasps. His uniform was disheveled, with several buttons undone, and his belt hung loosely from his waist.

"I might just burn this place to the ground..."