The seven individuals left to guard the goods and camels were all dead.
The perpetrator, Dubois, had been reduced to a puddle of bloody pulp.
From a caravan of over thirty people, only three remained, the two outsiders having departed.
While Hawk possessed a certain greed, it never extended to casually sacrificing his comrades for profit.
Despite now owning almost all the goods, he found no joy in it; his entire being was utterly distraught.
After extracting the bullet from his body and bandaging his wound, he slumped dejectedly on a camel at the rear of the caravan, his surviving merchant companion in a similar state of despair.
Checking water supplies, determining their direction, and calculating their progress fell to Sali, the most experienced desert survivor, whose injuries were minor and hadn’t touched bone.
In this desert, with no shelter from the sun, the temperature would only continue to climb, and they had to remain constantly vigilant against lizard attacks.
After consulting with Ghervil and Ishmele-Esli, they resolved to press onward, hoping to reach Burduka Town before nightfall.
Wrapped in silk and bound with ropes, the seven corpses were secured to the camels’ backs.
No one wished to leave the deceased to rot and be scavenged by animals in the desolate expanse.
Ghervil felt the same way, even though she knew they weren’t truly real.
“Is there any way to track down the mastermind behind this?” she wondered, a question forming in her mind.
Dubois’s gruesome death unequivocally indicated that the disturbance wasn’t caused by ordinary human means.
It was plausible that the large lizard had also been manipulated.
To passively await fate was always inferior to taking decisive action.
“If there were a way, I wouldn’t be wasting my energy, merely watching this spectacle alongside you,” Govet-Ghervil said.
“I can only confirm that the curse on these individuals wasn’t caused by ordinary Green Plain Lizard blood.”
“What exactly is a Green Lizard Dragon?”
Having heard Hawk utter that name, she had intended to inquire further from him.
However, seeing his current state, she had no choice but to abandon the idea.
“It’s how the locals refer to the Green Plain Lizard. While they fear these creatures, they also hold them in reverence. There are even rumors of them possessing dragon bloodline.”
Govet-Ghervil’s tone was brimming with disdain.
“An evil breed is an evil breed; how could it possibly be linked to dragons?”
“Are there truly dragons in this world?”
“That depends on your understanding of what a dragon is. Many consider the colossal winged beasts soaring through the sky, as depicted in legends and paintings—creatures capable of wielding extraordinary supernatural powers and possessing human-like sentience, even manifesting in human form—to be dragons…”
Govet-Ghervil’s vivid descriptions, in truth, were nothing but vague obfuscation.
“If dragons can’t solve this case or get me out of here, then my interest is exhausted.”
Too weary to listen to its rambling, Ghervil sought to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand.
“…I neglected to tell you, but every dream has something it clings to: a person, an animal, an object, or even a trivial incident. True dreams typically attach to the latter two, and only by finding that attachment can one leave.”
“So, in the end, it still boils down to luck. We might as well just wait for the dream to conclude on its own…”
The latter two categories encompassed virtually infinite possibilities; one could even argue a cloud in the sky counted.
“What kind of notion is that? After all my good intentions in explaining so much, you’d be better off using this time to find that perverted brat and extort some more snacks from them. Using power for extended periods is incredibly draining.”
“Who is this ‘perverted brat’?”
She knew Govet-Ghervil had a habit of coining nicknames for people, like ‘Unlucky’ for Ishmele-Esli, but ‘Perverted’ carried a far greater sting.
“Do you know what she did this morning when she helped you bathe? To call her ‘perverted’ is practically a compliment…”
Realizing her slip, Govet-Ghervil, a hint of dread in her voice, said no more.
Her sister possessed a pure heart; what would happen if she were told such a thing?
The consequences were all too easy to imagine.
Witnessing humanity’s damp, shadowy side, her spirit would surely be defiled.
“In any case, just remember she’s a pervert, and try to keep your distance from now on.”
“Callan?” Ghervil asked, her confusion evident, though a suspicion had already formed in her mind.
‘This morning,’ ‘bathe’—only two people could have helped her with that at such an hour.
“Exactly, it was her.”
“She is one of my few trusted friends, and in a sense, calling her a pervert is disrespectful to me.”
“Furthermore, if I’m not mistaken, we’re currently relying on Dr. Callan for our food, lodging, and supplies, aren’t we? How can you speak of her in such a manner?”
“Since she came to us with a request, isn’t it only natural for her to provide these things?” Govet-Ghervil retorted, refusing to yield.
To speak with such self-assurance implied either possessing leverage or employing some form of blackmail.
Considering this creature’s ability to control others…
Ghervil gained a deeper understanding of Govet-Ghervil.
This unruly furball, incapable of holding its tongue, was only meek and compliant in her presence; no outsider ever earned its respect.
“If, upon waking, I inquire with Dr. Callan and discover you’ve committed an offense, it will become necessary for you to adhere to the Ghervil family rules.”
She stated coldly.
“Family rules… such a thing exists? How do I not recall this…”
Govet-Ghervil clung to a faint hope, her previous arrogant demeanor completely gone.
The shadow of almost being roasted alive that fateful night slowly enveloped her.
Though she knew Ghervil wouldn’t actually roast her, especially after learning of their blood relation, the memory still sent shivers down her spine.
“I dictate the rules in this household. If there aren’t any now, there will be soon.”
The previously established rules—no sleeping on the bed, nightly baths, and meal expense limits—had gradually slackened.
If the situation proved true, these rules would be rigorously enforced.
“You’re likely to be disappointed. Dr. Callan and I get along splendidly… Shout for help if you encounter danger; I’m going to rest for a bit.”
After delivering her final defiant words, Govet-Ghervil hastily exited the dream.
It intended to threaten Dr. Callan, ordering her not to reveal the truth.
Sitting up from the soft ‘pillow,’ it leapt from the bed without hesitation, then jumped to reach and twist the doorknob.
After several attempts, there was no sign of the knob turning.
The tightly sealed window behind it allowed not a breath of wind to enter.
A realization dawned upon it: the door was locked.
One advantage of their reduced numbers was the abundance of supplies.
The food and water originally meant for over thirty people would last five of them for a considerable time.
After enduring such a tragedy, the atmosphere within the group became somber and taciturn.
Even Ishmele-Esli was affected by this mood, quietly approaching Ghervil’s camel in the middle of the caravan to whisper a question.
“Is there no possibility of those people being revived? This is a dream world; can’t you find a way, perhaps even make them forget what happened?”
“You would have to implore a goddess for that,” Ghervil sighed, a note of resignation in her voice.
“This is no ordinary dream. Events that have already transpired in a true dream cannot be altered. There’s no need to invest too much emotion; they are merely illusions. We, on the other hand, if we die here, our real-world bodies will never awaken, which is tantamount to death.”
“It’s not that I’m becoming emotional… it’s just difficult not to talk or chat. I went to Sali, and she said we should conserve our energy to guard against potential dangers.”
“I would feel the same way in her position. Ostensibly, she’s the leader now, and she must consider a broader range of circumstances.”
“Just bear with it a little longer. We have plenty of money, and once we arrive, we can enjoy a lavish dinner and choose a fine inn.”
Having persuaded Ishmele-Esli, Ghervil tilted her head back, gazing at the sky.
It was nearing dusk, and the hottest period of the day had already passed.
Lifting her canteen, she took a few sips of water, then continued to plod forward in silence.
Another two hours passed, and as the sun dipped to the horizon’s edge, she, astride her camel, felt utterly exhausted.
Her body swayed, on the verge of toppling, when a hand steadied her.
“We’re here!”
Ishmele-Esli, pulling on the reins, pointed ahead.
Following her gaze, Ghervil saw a small town, its bonfires already lit, nestled in the final rays of the setting sun.