"Why would a place of sand dunes and a sea devoid of life, in the middle of the harshest land in the continent, prove to be a tourist attraction, you ask? Because the unique geography of the region also leads to a multitude of mineral outcroppings, which are in general worthless things, but it does not stop them from creating a beautiful sight some people described as worth dying for.

Some people actually went and literally did that. Not all tourists who went to visit the Navatas, came back out of the desert. Every year, at least one or two groups would be lost to the ever hungering sands." - Dolos bin Zaeed, veteran desert guide operating out of the Hassid Caliphate.

They departed from the nomad encampment early the next morning, to friendly goodbyes from the nomads who saw them off, and walked further into the desert. Sand scrunched under their feet, as little animals scurried away from their path, their road through the endless sea of sand a relatively smooth pathway, compared to most who visited.

Then again, the vast majority of people who came to visit the Navatas did not travel with two Archmagus, with the rest of their party being mages capable of handling an adult Orgryn one on one. It was far more common for rich people to hire adventurers or mercenaries for such a journey instead.

Even when such journeys were undertaken in the autumn and winter months, where the most dangerous wildlife went docile or hibernated, approximately one in twenty such expeditions never returned. Despite that, it did little to discourage people from making the pilgrimage.

Intrepid adventurers also often took the route just to get their credentials as licensed escorts capable of walking the route, as it was a lucrative job despite the potential dangers involved. For every one such adventurer the desert swallowed, another ten sprouted.

Cal's party had no such issues, as they trekked through the desert in relative comfort and rested during the worst times of the day. Just Cal flaring out her mana periodically sent most smaller predators fleeing out of their path, so they were left undisturbed. As for smaller, poisonous critters… that was one reason she wanted a life affinity mage as a guide, amongst others.

Another reason was having a healer so she could train the girls properly during their rest breaks. Having Elaina and Sidonie along gave Ying Xiao valuable experience in fighting against - and more importantly, being on the receiving end - of lightning affinity mages, while Leila also benefited from the sparring between them, if it could be called that, since most sparring usually didn't shed blood all the time like they did.

They were careful to avoid potentially lethal blows, of course - unless it was directed at Ying Xiao that is -, and Cal was on watch to intervene should a spar get too heated. Dan was the one who bore the brunt of the fatigue as each night he was tasked with healing the girls back up to shape for the next day's trip.

To be fair, they paid him extra for that service.

A week after they departed from the nomads - having visited another oasis, uninhabited this time, along the way - they saw their destination in the distance, right as the sun was setting.

It was an impossible sight to miss, even from the distance - Dan estimated them to be a few hours away at most - as when the sun's rays struck the mineral growths obscured by the dunes, they were reflected back as a blinding kaleidoscope of colors, that were bright enough to be visible as faint rays of color when set against the dusky sky.

They did not waste their time, and walked the evening until they reached the nearest sand dunes, and began to climb up until they reached its top. That night, they set up their tents at the top of the dune, overlooking the wondrous vista below.

It was a full moon night, and the sky happened to be cloudless. The bright light of the moons shone down, the minerals growing in between the dunes, by the dead sea, reflecting its light, causing what appeared to be a maze of light, or an abstract painting formed by various hues of light, to form over the dead sea as it also reflected the light.

Everyone in the group ate their dinner quietly, while looking at the beautiful sight below with reverence for the natural forces that had inadvertently created them. After they ate, they mostly remained by the side of the dune, watching the ever shifting, wondrous sight, even as Kino strummed her lute and sang a song from ages ago, by a bard from what is now the caliphate, praising the wonder of nature.

What a wondrous sight~ that our eyes, beheld~

A play of lights, and gemstones~

It was oh, so bright~ as if we're, bespelled~

So grand a sight, a feast of tones~

Light and shadows formed a maze of rays~ in which one might well lose themselves for days~

A showing of nature's feats, that it was, sure it is~

It was then, when the sun rose up high~

Its bright rays, shining from the horizon~

Bright light landed on the gems, and spread~

Paints a picture in the air~

Colors bright spread wide~ reds greens blues, yellows~

Interweaving like a sculpture~

It was one made of~ nature's wonders worth~

Untouched by the hands of men~

The pristine beauty bursts right forth~

Before our eyes and touched our souls~

On that day had many shed a tear~

And I was, amongst them~

It was then, when the sun rose up high~

Its bright rays, shining from the horizon~

Bright light landed on the gems, and spread~

Paints a picture in the air~

It was then, when the sun rose up high~

Its bright rays, shining from the horizon~

Bright light landed on the gems, and spread~

Paints a picture in the air~

Her song echoed through the silent night, the party immersed between the melody playing, her hypnotic voice, and the wondrous sight before them. Even Dan, who as a guide had been to the Navata many times, felt like he found a new appreciation for the sight of the dunes.