The Princess' Harem
Chapter 104: The Desert’s Embrace

Chapter 104: The Desert’s Embrace

The climb was slow, hard work. The air grew thinner with every foot they gained. Joel moved with practiced ease, his long career as a mercenary king teaching him how to find purchase on even the smallest bumps in the rock.

He used his tools, hammering small metal spikes called pitons into cracks, then looping rope through them to make sure they wouldn’t fall far if they slipped.

Reyes followed, his powerful build and quick mind making him a perfect second climber. He often found a better way up, sometimes passing Joel to take the lead on a difficult section.

Hours passed. The sun climbed high, beating down on the red rock, making it hot to the touch. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, stinging their eyes. Their muscles burned.

Below, Viana, Rayne, Arden, and Kaley watched, their necks aching from looking up. They were just tiny specks against the massive cliff face, moving like slow insects.

Viana’s heart clenched with worry each time one of them stretched for a far-off handhold, or a small stone tumbled from above. She kept her gaze fixed, offering silent strength.

"They’re halfway," Rayne murmured, his voice tight with tension. He had never seen such a brutal climb.

Suddenly, Joel’s foot slipped. A small cry escaped his lips, quickly cut off. He swung wildly for a moment, his body scraping against the rock.

Reyes, who was below him, quickly reached out a hand, grabbing Joel’s leg. Joel managed to find a new grip, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Close on," he grunted, shaking his head. Reyes just nodded, his face pale but firm. They continued, more carefully now.

Finally, after what felt like an endless climb, Joel pulled himself over the last edge. He lay flat for a moment, breathing hard, the thin air burning his lungs.

Reyes followed shortly after, hauling himself onto the narrow, windswept summit.

The top of the cliff was a harsh, flat expanse of cracked, red rock. No plants grew here, no life stirred.

The wind howled, a constant, dry moan. But in the very center, where the light had pulsed, stood a few small plants.

It were unlike anything everyone had ever seen. Its leaves were a deep, dark green, almost black, and they seemed to glow with a faint, internal light, like embers in the darkness.

It were no taller than a man’s forearm, but its presence felt ancient, powerful. These were the Desert’s Embrace.

Joel and Reyes approached the plants slowly, their awe mixing with the pain of their climb. It seemed to defy the harsh environment, drawing life from nowhere.

Joel carefully crouched down. "This is it," he whispered, his voice rough.

Reyes nodded, then looked closely at the ground around the plant. "Arden said it cannot have water. Not even a drop."

From below, they heard Arden’s urgent voice, carried by the wind. It was faint, but clear enough for Joel to understand. "Extract it carefully! Do not touch the roots with bare hands! Use the dry soil around it!"

Joel remembered the small canvas pouch Arden had given him before they climbed, filled with dry, powdery sand from the cliff base. He pulled them out, took out a small, flat digging tool, almost like a thin spade.

He began to dig very slowly, not breaking the soil too much, creating a wide circle around the plant. He worked with extreme care, making sure no moisture from his hands, no tiny drop of sweat, touched the soil or the plant itself.

Reyes watched with sharp eyes, ready to help.

It was a slow, careful process. Joel dug deeper, loosening the dry earth around the roots, pulling them out with the soil still attached. He lifted the plants gently, its dark leaves shimmering faintly.

Then, he placed the entire clump, plant and its surrounding dry earth, into a special, small, wooden box that Arden had also given him. The box was lined with a soft, dry cloth.

He sealed the box tightly, then secured it to his back, making sure it wouldn’t shift or get wet during the descent.

With the Desert’s Embrace finally in their possession, a wave of relief washed over them, but it was quickly replaced by urgency. They had to get it back.

The descent was still dangerous, but faster. Joel and Reyes used the rope they had brought, carefully rappelling down sections, their strong bodies sliding smoothly.

They reached the base as the sun began to dip toward the western horizon, painting the sky in fiery colors.

Viana rushed forward, her eyes instantly going to the small wooden box on Joel’s back. "You have it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Joel unstrapped the box and carefully handed it to Arden, who received it with trembling hands, his face alight with an almost religious reverence.

"Yes, Princess," Joel confirmed, breathing hard but with a triumphant glint in his eyes. "We have it."

Rayne clapped both Joel and Reyes on the back, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Well done, gentlemen. Truly well done."

They wasted no time. The immediate danger was past, but the blight still spread across the land. They had what they needed, and now they had to get it to Elysia.

They mounted their horses, the relief mixing with a renewed sense of purpose. Joel, Viana, Rayne, and Kaley got on their mounts, meanwhile Reyes and Arden took their shared mount. Arden still clutched the wooden box like a precious jewel.

Their journey back began under the last light of dusk. They moved through the harsh Sunstone Wastes, now less terrifying with the cure in hand.

They rode through the night, past the ghostly shapes of the Whisperwood, which now felt more familiar, less threatening.

The days that followed were a blur of riding. They moved fast, stopping only for short rests.

The land slowly changed from the dry, rocky wastes to more fertile plains, then to the familiar rolling hills and green fields that led to the capital city.

Prince Rayne rode with them, his presence a clear sign of the urgent situation. He had joined Viana’s cause completely, putting aside any other matters.

The air grew warmer, more humid, signaling their approach to the heart of the kingdom.

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