As the sun descended below the horizon, their small caravan set up camp nestled within a natural rock formation just beyond the territory of the crawlers. They opted to wait until daylight to confront the creatures. Upon emerging from the carriage, Zeke found his group already bustling with activity. Setting up camp had become a well-practiced routine.

As usual, Vulcanos took charge of the fire and cooking duties. He arranged a circle of stones before conjuring a smoldering ball of Magma into the center. A large smile graced his lips, undoubtedly fueled by the prospect of enjoying fresh meat tonight after enduring a long stretch of nothing but jerky.

Around the firepit, dust, stones, and sand were flattened as Gravitas prepared the area for the tents. Utilizing her Gravitational Magic, she compacted the soil, ensuring their campsite was comprised of solid ground rather than loose sand. This not only facilitated the erection of tents but also served as a deterrent against potential enemies attempting to tunnel beneath them during the night.

Meanwhile, Ash attended to the Sandstriders. Though the lizards required minimal care, they tended to become particularly irritable during feeding times, rendering the task somewhat difficult. Fortunately, Ash had little trouble wrangling the beasts, and they had gradually learned not to act out with him. Zeke was amused to see the large beasts behaving so affectioned around the seasoned warrior.

Behind him, a smaller figure followed cautiously. Snow was never far from Ash when it came time to set up camp. It was far from the first time Zeke had noticed the gleam in her eyes as she glanced at the Sandstriders. He recalled overhearing her mention once that a skilled mount was the true mark of a warrior. It made Zeke ponder the nature of the society of Snow's homeland.

As usual, the guide stood to the side, leaving the work to the Chimeroi. According to him, it was customary for slaves to perform such menial tasks. Though Zeke felt inclined to object, he chose to let it pass for a simple reason: neither he nor the guide could offer much assistance. In fact, they would likely only hinder the process if they attempted to help.

Before long, the tents were erected, the animals tended to, and the aroma of sizzling meat permeated the campsite. While their guide reluctantly accepted a single skewer, Zeke and the Chimeroi practically devoured the meat. Unlike most humans, he had enjoyed the taste of monster meat for years. Khai'Zhar had once suggested that his evolving appetite might be a sign of his body adapting to the Draconic Essence, but Zeke didn't really care. He enjoyed the taste, plain and simple.

After dinner, their guide excused himself and returned to his tent to get some sleep, leaving Zeke alone with the Chimeroi. Their small group quietly talked about what they had been up to during the day while carefully avoiding any sensitive topics. They kept this up for a while, when suddenly…

[Notice]

The target has fallen asleep.