We approached the inner gates one final time, passing the necessary silver to Nikolai. He stamped our clearance with a supportive nod, wishing us luck as the massive iron-reinforced doors creaked open to let us out.
Stepping back into the shifting dunes, the noon sun was at its absolute peak, beating down with an oppressive, suffocating intensity. My heavy canvas cloak did its best to shield my body from the direct glare, but the ambient desert sun bounced off the white sands, radiating a fierce heat that bled right through the fabric. Even with the cloth protecting my core from bursting into a scorched rash, my sensitive, mutated skin was drinking in the heat; I knew that by the time I finally returned to Caria, I would be even more deeply tanned than before.
Beside me, Alta moved with the effortless confidence of a seasoned Diamond-rank hunter. She held a detailed parchment map in one hand and a polished brass compass in the other, expertly navigating the featureless terrain and adjusting our course without a single moment of hesitation.
As the grueling afternoon hours finally began to wane, the harsh glare of the sand gave way to a sudden, miraculous patch of emerald green on the horizon. We had reached the hidden oasis.
The moment we stepped past the outer palm trees, the crisp, cool air of the sanctuary washed over my face, forcing a deep, silent sigh of relief from my throat. It was exactly as Oksana had described in her final moments, a paradise hidden away from the cruelty of the outer wastes. Dotting the landscape were elegant, woven structures blending seamlessly into the nature around them, and walking among them were the distinct, graceful figures of the elves.
We hadn't even made it past the first watering hole before a sharp-eyed elven scout caught sight of us. His eyes went wide with instant recognition as they landed on my beautiful companion.
"Oh, Lady Alta! You have returned to us! Please, follow the path into the village… we will report directly to the chief of the Petrivna Tribe to announce your arrival immediately."
We followed the elven scout past a series of elegant, sun-dappled huts woven into the oasis greenery until we finally arrived at the grand structure belonging to the village leader.
Stepping inside, my single jade eye locked onto the figure waiting for us, and my heart nearly stopped. Standing before us was the village chief, a woman with striking strawberry-blonde elven hair. As she turned her head, my gaze immediately dropped to her neck. There, etched deeply into her flesh, was a massive, jagged, violently healed scar right across her windpipe.
She was alive.
Oksana's mother had somehow survived that brutal human merchant's dagger twenty years ago. The very trauma that had sparked the creation of a ruthless drug empire and poisoned the bloodlines of Caria was built on a lie, her mother hadn't choked to death in the dirt. She had endured.
Outside, the oppressive desert sun was finally dipping below the horizon, casting long, cool amber shadows across the oasis. Alta stepped forward, a warm smile breaking across her face as she extended her hand. The chief met her halfway, their palms locking in a firm, familiar handshake.
"Welcome back, Alta," the chief said, her voice slightly raspy, undoubtedly a lasting remnant of the throat wound that had nearly taken her life.
Then, the chief's sharp elven eyes shifted over to me. She noted the heavy canvas cloak, the strapped shotgun, and the missing left arm.
"Who is this, Alta?"
Since the burning rays of the sun had finally vanished into the twilight, it was safe for me to move. I reached up with my right hand and smoothly lowered my hood, exposing my severely tanned skin, my scarred face, and my single jade-green eye beneath the leather eyepatch.
"This is my hunting partner, Eirene," Alta introduced smoothly, keeping her deep voice steady and respectful.
The strawberry-haired elf offered me a graceful, dignified bow.
"Greetings, Eirene. I am Mona Petrivna, chief of this tribe. It is an honor to have a warrior of your stature in our sanctuary."
She turned back to Alta, her expression lighting up with genuine joy.
"Come, let us go into the center of our village. We must throw a proper feast and celebrate Alta's grand return!"
We followed Mona to the center of the village, where a roaring bonfire cracked into the twilight sky, surrounded by vibrant, hand-woven mats and low wooden tables. I took my spot directly beside Alta, dropping down onto the woven fabric in a comfortable criss-cross applesauce position, my folded wings resting securely beneath my cloak.
Mona smiled warmly as she poured a vibrant, aromatic juice into wooden chalices.
"It is truly wonderful to have you here again, Alta. Especially after everything you did for us all those years ago."
Alta offered a humble, calming gesture with her hands, her deep male voice lowering respectfully.
"No worries, Chief. I was just doing my job."
Watching the interaction, I couldn't help but admire her. Seeing how the top contributor of the CKBA had forged such deep, genuine alliances out here in the wastes proved that beneath her monstrous Chimera blood, Alta was a truly good person.
Soon, the elven attendants began filling the tables with an array of spectacular dishes I had never seen before in my life, paired with glowing, exotic fruits grown entirely within the unique ecosystem of the oasis. I picked up a piece of the strange fruit and took a bite. The flavor was absolutely fascinating, a perfect blend of sweetness and a refreshing, magical cooling sensation. It was a one-of-a-kind cultural delicacy. I immediately knew I needed to treasure this recipe, perhaps to recreate it for my baby sister Evelyn one day.
Since Mona was sitting right beside me, I pulled out my fresh notepad and pencil from my purse, quickly scribbling a message to show her:
The food is incredible. Can you tell me the recipe?
Mona read the note and her eyes softened with a maternal warmth.
"Of course, Eirene. I know your friend Alta is incredibly kind to us, and since you are her trusted partner, we will happily share our elven culinary secrets as a token of our gratitude."
Mona excused herself from the table, walking back toward her grand hut. She returned shortly after, holding a small, leather-bound elven recipe book along with a small pouch filled with the glowing seeds of the exotic fruits. She pressed them into my single right hand, and I nodded my head vigorously, offering her my profound, silent thanks before slipping the treasures into my leather purse.
With the pleasantries finished, Mona's expression shifted, becoming more serious as she looked directly at my companion.
"Now, Alta... tell me the real reason you have traveled all this way. Why did you come back to our oasis?"
Alta leaned forward, her beautiful features hardening into her professional hunting persona as she laid her palms flat on the low table. She began thoroughly explaining the S-rank monster contract, detailing the massive migration of the Neospiders and the deadly new Queen currently nesting in the sand caves just north of the tribe's borders.
Mona nodded gravely, her strawberry-hued elven hair swaying in the firelight.
"Yes, those wretched neospiders have been a constant pain for my village recently. They wander too close to our borders. However, my scouts managed to trap one a few days ago, and we successfully extracted its silk. Do you want some?"
The moment the words neospider silk left her mouth, my entire body reacted. I sat straight up, my single jade-green eye locking onto the chief with sudden, intense focus.
Alta noticed my sharp reaction and immediately spoke up for me, her deep male voice smooth and reassuring.
"Neospider silk... that is exactly what my friend here has been searching for, Chief. Honestly, that silk is the main reason she agreed to come all the way out into the wastes with me."
Mona let out a soft, melodic laugh.
"Well, you two certainly came to the right place then. We have entire boxes of harvested silk stored away in our repository."
I felt a massive wave of relief, but I knew we couldn't just take the prize and run. Professional courtesy and my own pride meant we needed to completely eliminate the threat and finish the Bureau's S-rank contract before we could officially claim the silk as our reward. I tapped Alta's shoulder and gave her a firm, meaningful nod, which she returned with an understanding smile.
As the night deepened, the grand celebratory feast finally drew to a close. The fire burned down to low, glowing embers, and the elven villagers began clearing the wooden tables.
Mona stood up, her regal posture commanding respect as she looked at the two of us.
"The hour has come. Our finest trackers and men are ready, and they will lead you directly to the perimeter of the neospiders' nest."
I stood up, shaking out my legs, and tightly refastened my canvas cloak over my hidden wings. With the cold steel of the Death Chant Shotgun strapped firmly to my back and my leather purse riding high on my hip, Alta and I bid a temporary farewell to the chief. We stepped away from the cool, comforting sanctuary of the bonfire and left the village behind, marching out into the dark desert night alongside our elven guides to face the terrors of the sand cave.