Cloud over oasis

Kant gently shook the reins, urging his weary warhorse forward. The morning sun ascended from the eastern horizon of the Lorn Desert, hovering atop the endless sand dunes, releasing its majestic power and dispelling the nighttime chill. In this desolate, ochre-colored desert, a scorching heatwave surged forth. No civilized race dared to venture into this barren desert, except for the uncivilized gnolls. This included Kant and his retinue. Twenty cavalrymen clad in chainmail beneath their robes, thirty peasant followers, and six laden wagons pulled by draft horses followed Kant as they traversed the desert. "Ah," Kant sighed heavily, furrowing his brow as he surveyed the seemingly endless dunes ahead. He lifted the linen hood attached to his robe, allowing golden locks to cascade over his neck. His youthful face was smudged with dirt. Kant's amber eyes narrowed as he rode atop his horse, his expression slightly grave. This was the Lorn Desert, a world of gravel, an uncultivated wilderness, a savage land. Ten years ago, before the Lionheart Kingdom conquered it, there was no civilization to be found in this desert. The gnoll tribes, in their primitive state, still roamed the land, feasting on raw prey. Of course, it was still the same now. As the son of a duke, Kant understood that this desert was not technically the territory of the Lionheart Kingdom. Despite their conquest a decade ago, which resulted in the Lionheart Kingdom occupying the southern region of the Lorn Desert, the ownership of this desert remained only in the kingdom's rhetoric. Even most scholars within the kingdom did not acknowledge this new conquest. On the map, the Lionheart Kingdom's border was adjacent to the Sanyawa Mountains, which bordered the Lorn Desert. The endless desert to the north was still unclaimed territory. It was a lawless land, occupied by gnoll tribes, where pasturing and farming were impossible, rendering it utterly devoid of any value. Even the desperate outlaws and escaped slaves within the Lionheart Kingdom wouldn't dare set foot in such a place. "How pathetic," Kant shook his head, chuckling self-deprecatingly. "And here I am." If he had a choice, he would never set foot in this desolate desert. Furthermore, it was summer now, and the sunlight in June was scorching, akin to the ovens of a bakery. The morning sun alone raised the desert's temperature to 50 degrees Celsius. Kant looked up at the sky as the sun slowly ascended above the dunes. During this season, at noon in the Lorn Desert, temperatures could reach an unbearable 70 degrees Celsius. "It's so hot," Kant swallowed, feeling a sticky saliva in his mouth. He readjusted his breathable linen hood, his brow furrowing even tighter. He spurred his horse to pick up the pace a few steps and turned to shout at the trailing retinue, "Everyone, exert more effort and increase our speed! If you don't want to be toasted like bread under the midday sun, we need to set up camp and rest before noon!" "Understood," came the feeble response as the farmers extended their hands to push the wagons, increasing the pace. With their reliance on two legs and the burden of three heavily loaded wagons, the entire group's progress was significantly hindered. The large wooden wheels, made from solid timber, were more suitable for the plains of the Lionheart Kingdom, while on the soft sands and gravel of the desert, the wheels struggled to turn. The stout draft horses strained, their nostrils flaring, sinking into the sandy ground with each step. It required the assistance of the farmers to push the wheels and maintain a slightly faster pace. Kant, understanding the situation, couldn't help but sigh as he watched the movement of the group behind him. "This is truly unfortunate," Kant muttered, his brow furrowed. "Milord Baron," came the voice of Roland, the captain of the cavalry, as he rode his horse to Kant's side. This usually composed middle-aged man now wore an anxious expression, and he asked directly, "Please forgive my impudence, but we truly wish to know how much longer it will take to reach the Outpost Oasis?" "How long?" Kant maintained a calm demeanor, his gaze fixed on the seemingly endless dunes ahead. He clenched his teeth and replied, "I am not certain." "This..." Roland's anxiety grew upon hearing the answer. It was clearly not the ideal response he had hoped for. However, a slight smile crept onto Kant's lips as he remained composed, showing no emotional fluctuations on his serene face. He spoke in a calm tone, "But based on estimations, we have been traveling for six days. If the map and the route are correct, then we should be nearing our destination." "Nearly there?" Roland swallowed...