The warrior told us to stay in the city as there is a massive sandstorm coming towards us.
Upon hearing that, we decided to stay in the city until the sandstorm dies down.
The sandstorm is not just a regular type of sandstorm that travelers usually encountered in the desert but a shifting sandstorm.
A shifting sandstorm is a type of sandstorm that instantly rearrange the landscape as it will erase paths, create new sand dunes or bury landmarks that will disorient any traveler.
If we stubbornly continued on our journey despite the warrior's warning, we might end up in a much worse situation than before.
It's okay though as we'll try to ask for any information about the western area of the land.
The city that we are in is quite unique as besides having streets and pathways, they have underground tunnels that they can use for roaming around the city in case there's a massive sandstorm like now.
We are currently staying in an inn that seems more like a hotel, where there are all sorts of amenities inside such as a library, a restaurant, a tavern and even a small shop.
To be honest, this city seems more modern compared to what we have back at the territory.
But both of them have their own uniqueness.
Bubu gave me a knowing grin when we arrived at the inn in which she went somewhere with the warrior.
Oh, I already know what she is about to do.
I do hope that she keeps the noises minimal this time as I don't want any trouble from the other occupants.
Sly, Khamsin and Alpha are about to go somewhere in the city as they told me that they are going to ask around for information.
Wait!
This city has potential for our business!
I told Sly about my idea in which the three of them lit up and excitedly began to discuss among themselves about our business expansion.
Yes, that's right. Khamsin is our business partner despite being already well off.
Having a constant source of income is still a delight to me even though I no longer have a need for it.
Of course there was no problem in finding creatures to work for us as the guards that I met back at the arena where Ghost was a prisoner before, immediately agreed to work for us with no hesitation in their voices.
It was nice to see them again, especially Tiger, who looked too eager to see me that my companions began to look at him warily.
Khamsin's steward reported to him that our businesses in his city thrived so well that they are considering to expand in the nearby cities.
Ah. It seems that Tiger and his companions adapted well in the desert.
Anyway, back to the present.
Sly and Alpha gave me a tender kiss and nuzzled me all over my face and neck before telling Orm that he should keep me safe.
Orm looked at them with an annoyed face as he told them that he can definitely manage it.
They have some bantering between them before Sly, Alpha and Khamsin finally left.
Soon, it is just Orm and me.
Alone.
Inside the room.
To my surprise, Orm suddenly turned red and asked me if I don't mind if he wants to take me somewhere in the city.
Like a date?
I asked him if it is a date in which he looked confused as he asked me what a date is.
After telling him what it is, he lit up and immediately told me that I should demand dates from him as he would definitely love dating me.
He's so innocent.
But not all the time as he has a devil side of him.
Like what happened between us back in the cave.
....
It's such a shame that I didn't bring any makeup with me but I don't look that bad as the uniqueness of my hair color makes up for it.
It's been a long time that I've been on a date.
I mean, a date that I dressed up for.
I took a bath and changed into one of the clothes that Orm bought for me that looked very flattering on me.
He has good taste.
Same with the jewelry as well in which I wore several of them on my body.
After I styled my hair in which I put some accessories on it, I'm finally ready.
When I went to the lobby where Orm is waiting for me, I can see him looked speechless when he saw me.
He kept staring at me with such passion in his eyes that I felt myself turn red, making me avert my eyes as I asked him on where we are going.
It took awhile for him to answer before he took a deep breath and carried me tenderly in his arms.
He nuzzled me on my neck before entering the underground tunnel.
....
We had a lovely time at the city.
Despite the stares from the other deserters, Orm acted confidently while murmuring something that sounds like they wouldn't dare if they know better.
There was an instance where there was a group of deserters staring at me for too long that icicles started to form around them that they hurriedly ran away.
Of course, I tried to calm him down by giving him a quick kiss on his neck.
It was effective.
Too effective that he started to lick my ear regardless that many creatures are staring at us with fascination.
Or maybe he did it on purpose.
After a long time of exploring the city, we went back to the inn and decided to spend some time at the library.
The library is empty when we arrived. It is filled with all sorts of scrolls and books like Lion's library back in his castle but bigger.
And cosier.
All sorts of rugs are everywhere, making me realize that they just sit down on it as there are no presence of chairs.
They have a table of some sorts but it is quite low, fitting for someone who is sitting on the rugs.
Orm carried me towards an area at the library where it is quite secluded but cosy as there are several pillows around one of the tables.
He sat down on the rug and placed me on his lap as his tail coiled around us.
The books looked fascinating but since I don't know how to read their written language and runes, so I asked Orm to read some books to me.
With joy in his eyes, he used his magic to get random books from the shelves, placing everything around us like some sort of a fort.
It's too many!
We don't have time to read everything!
Orm chuckled seeing the look on my face as he told me that as soon as we get back to the territory, we would spend time with each other like this every now and then as he doesn't mind reading to me.
With a mischievous grin, he told me that we can also do more than just reading and that he would make sure that no one will disturb us.
We kissed passionately for a long time.
After that, Orm asked me on which book should he read to me.
All of the books almost look the same except some of them have different colors.
I told him all about the books that I have in my previous world, making him look interested in which he asked all sorts of questions.
He is particularly fascinated about books having drawings on the covers and comics.
Of course, they don't have it here.
Ah! He should make something like that!
I told him that he should make a book and draw a picture on the cover, making him ponder for a bit before telling me that he will consider it.
Ooohhh.. I wonder what he will write about? Is it book about magic? Of course, it will be a sensation as the magic books that they have looks quite boring to me.
Orm held me tightly with one of his arms as his other hand used magic to open one of the books.
Then he began to read.
....
Okay.
Maybe his first choice isn't good as it is all about politics.
Orm seemed to agree with me as he didn't finish reading and used magic to return it to where it came from.
Then he opened another book and didn't even read it to me as I can see that it is full of all sorts of what seemed to be numbers.
Another bad choice.
Orm started to become grumpier as the books that he got are either all about politics or arithmancy.
Arithmancy by the way is the magical study of numbers and divination.
I hated mathematics back in my previous world until now. Whenever there's something that needs computation, it's always Lion who do it for me. He doesn't mind though as he can compute all sorts of numbers fast in his head.
He's like a calculator!
Hmm.. I should probably find a book for Orm to read.
I stood up and explored the library while Orm became busy returning the books that he got that turned out to be extremely boring.
I noticed that there are several shelves full of books in the corner that looks a bit neglected.
It should be interesting to read as the books that seemed interesting for others to read are boring to me.
I took almost all of it, nearly losing my balance as I tried to carry all of them like some sort of a tower.
It's heavy!
I can hear Orm's chuckle as he used magic to take the books away from me and placed everything beside him.
Then I sat again on his lap, making his tail coil around us again.
This time, the book is quite interesting as it is all about the giant planet that I saw in the sky.
Orm told me that nobody has explored the planet yet as there is no need since the world that we are in hasn't been completely explored yet.
I see.
Maybe sometime in the future then.
I asked him if the planet is the location of the Netherworld, making him chuckle as he explained that the Netherworld belongs to another dimension.
I don't understand.
He has a hard time explaining it to me but in short, it belongs to a separate plane of existence that you need to have a huge amount of magic to visit it.
Huge amount of magic?
Then who has that kind of magic that demons managed to come in this world?
I can see that Orm has similar thoughts like me when he suddenly became silent.
Ah, now I know what to do.
Since I can't tell anyone directly what I know, I would just make some sort of conversation that will eventually lead to that kind of topic.
After several minutes of Orm pondering, I asked him if he knows who has my bag and Buddhist staff. He looked startled, as if I disturbed him while he is deeply thinking about our topic earlier.
I apologized hurriedly in which he immediately reassured me that I'm not disturbing him in any way and he was just thinking about something that he needs to discuss with the rest of the pack as soon as we can find Lion and Ghost.
Good.
Now they can do the investigation about the demons.
He thought for a bit before telling me that my bag and the Buddhist staff is with Ghost since during the sandstorm, Lion was too focused on trying to hold on to me that he dropped my stuff. Good thing that Ghost noticed immediately that he took it or else it would be lost forever.
I acted like I'm hugely concerned about losing my Buddhist staff that Orm asked me what kind of spell does it have.
He took the bait.
Of course I told him that it doesn't have that kind of spell that they have. It just dispels demons, banish evil energy and sanctify areas.
I reminded him of all the experiences we had in which I used the Buddhist staff.
Oohhh.. now he is thinking!
I'm hoping that he can now connect everything we just talked about.
If I can't talk to him about everything I know directly, then I'll find a way to lead him to it.
I believe that Orm is also quick witted and that he can understand the situation that we are in.
To my delight, he got it as he told me that we need to find Lion and Ghost as soon as possible as there is something he needs to tell them immediately.
Thank goodness.
Now I should try to find a way to let him know that I'm in danger.
But before I was about to tell him, the other three males entered the library and approached us.
They looked pleased seeing me and told us that we should go somewhere to eat.
Ah. I better talk to him about that another time then.
....
We had a lovely time at the restaurant. While waiting for our food, Orm, Khamsin and Alpha started to play tic-tac-toe, in which Sly looked with interest.
I taught him how to play and it didn't take long for him to understand.
Now they are having some sort of duel by playing tic-tac-toe. Sly challenged Alpha while Orm is playing with Khamsin.
I looked at them fondly as I started to eat our food, which is getting cold as they are too engrossed with their duel.
Soon, it was getting too late that I told them that I will teach them another game to play as soon as they are done eating.
My words are like magic as it didn't take too long for them to finish eating.
....
After 3 days, the sandstorm finally died down and we resumed our journey.
Khamsin told us that he heard that there is an interesting place that we have to explore, an ancient temple where all sorts of rumors and legends spoke of it as filled with strong magic energy.
Oohh.. interesting..
After a pause, he continued on telling us that nobody tried to explore it as it was said that creatures go missing as soon as they go inside the place.
That sounds like we should avoid it then.
But what if the transformation stone is located in there?
If there's magic energy then there's a huge possibility of the transformation stone being in the temple.
Everyone seems to be thinking the same thing since there are no complaints as Sly flew towards the direction of the temple.
I also hope that we can find Lion, Ghost and Deus there.
....
The males took some time in trying to destroy the golems that are guarding the inside of the temple.
Golems are not truly alive but may seem like it as they were just created by magic and usually follow their creator's commands.
But since the temple itself is ancient, I don't think that their creator is still alive though they still followed their command as they are fiercely defending the temple when we went inside.
Destroying them seems difficult as the golems seemed like they were made by an extremely powerful magic.
Wait.
I suddenly remembered that some golems have elemental crystals on them. When you take the crystals, you can destroy them.
You can also destroy the crystals too but it will be a waste as the elemental crystals can be used as a material in making magical objects.
Since Bubu is carrying me, I asked her if she can put me down and told her everything I knew about golems.
After she placed me down on the floor, she hurriedly went towards the males in hopes of trying to tell them what I told her.
I wonder what the golems are trying to guard.
Oh, how stupid of me.
Of course they are guarding the temple!
They are frequently used as guardians besides being used as free labor for the magic users though they required a huge amount of magic in making them.
As far as I know, earth elemental magic users are quite capable of making them.
Ah! I hope Ghost will learn how to do that someday in the future.
A sudden crash near me interrupted my thoughts, making me panic as I tried to find somewhere safe for me to hide.
Bubu seems busy trying to get the crystals and nobody else noticed me as they are too engrossed in trying to get the crystals as well.
So, I'm on my own.
No problem at all as I don't want to be a burden to everyone.
Despite trying to be in good shape, my efforts are in vain as the golems are too quick for me that I was nearly squashed to death with their movements.
That was surprising to me since the golems that I read about from fantasy books are supposed to have slow movement because of their size.
A huge mistake on my part of being too reliant on what I read.
I ran like a headless chicken as I tried to avoid them, which is hard as chaos erupted around me.
Wait..
There seems to be an object shining at the corner!
Maybe it's the transformation stone!
AHHH! I WAS NEARLY SQUASHED TO DEATH!
I can hear Sly calling me in a desperate voice in which I saw him trying to go near me but he was distracted immediately by a golem that is about to step on me.
Immediately, I tried to run towards the shining object in hopes of it being the transformation stone.
Transformation stone my foot.
It turned out to be an artifact that opened a portal of some sorts in which I was absorbed into it.
The last thing I heard is Sly screaming my name desperately.