"There is more water here. In the air and a little in the dried river bed." Current supported what Remey was smelling and feeling.
"That's because we are getting closer to the end of this river, isn't it. The desert being dry and cursed wouldn't affect way out here." Gil caught on easily. He could sense that this was a better place too.
They had all caught on that their group had traveled fairly far. It wasn't just the fact that they had been walking for a while in the dim light of a dried river bed and sandstone cave. It was what they could feel in their bodies. The wear and tear if walking faster to find their end.
"There it is." Remey was very glad to see a tiny little sprout. It was on the side of the sandstone cave which surprised Walker. Naturally, he used the all around appraisal skill to see what it was that Remey had just found.
'Prickled sand weed
The prickled sand weed is somewhat like a cactus. They grow in very harsh environments with very little water. They prefer dim areas and will grow faster when they are exposed to damp conditions while still as seeds.
They can grow through sandstone easily causing them to be the foundations for some large sandstone oases in the desert. Their leaves may be incredibly prickly, but they hold a very potent earth mana that can be used to treat the poison from other plants on the skin.'
"I read about this prickled sand weed in a book. It is hard to find since most beaches are not good enough for them to grow. But it's here and I see even more seeds and sprouts around here. I would assume there was a small rain storm recently near here. That would make it grow." Remey rambled off details. Walker had expected he needed to share details from the all around appraisal. But he had been wrong.
"So you will use that for medicine? Or will you use it for potions?" Gil had an inkling that Remey was thinking about potions. She only got like this when she was thinking about potions and how she could use the herbs better. But since she was looking at the unsprouted seeds too, everyone knew that she would bring them to the herbalists in Genesis to grow them.
"If you want better herbs there will be some at the mouth of this river. Where the water has barely touched during floods in the area. That is where many herbs had perfect growing conditions." it was clear that Current had regained enough water mana and was greatly comfortable. He hated the desert because it was his enemy.
In a way, the royal dragons perfectly kept one another in check. Ignus could be doused by Current's water attacks. But if Current entered Ignus's territory, then Current would be the one to evaporate. This was just perfect since they would be able to be equals as long as they remained in their own territories. Specifically when it came to the royal court, they would be able to keep each other from acting out.
Not that actring out was an issue to a dragon. Ignus was hot headed just like the flames he used. Current was flowing and a little manipulative just like the flow of water around the world. Neother let the other get away but both had respect for one another. This was the interesting dynamic of dragons that Walker and many others missed before they had actually met the dragons and begun to learn about them.
"Let's push ahead and see where this end is. The river mouth might also have monsters surrounding it. Nothing has come here in a long time." Su made sure to remind everyone of danger. But Current and Mordant did not concern themselves with it at all. They clearly wanted to see where things led now. It almost felt like the party was just on the backs of the two dragons who were doing whatever they wanted.
There was a slight light as the group began to near what they believed was the end of the dried river bed. From what Walker could see, small tracks had been made in this area of the silt covered floor. There were even signs that water had lapped up and hit the floor and walls at times. Exactly the same as the ocean might or a large lake.
"Cat tails are growing around here too. They are way taller than us." Alice was very impressed with the very tall plants seemingly walling off the sandstone cave and the river bed from the outside. This was why so little light was coming in.
However, it felt safer even though Gil and Walker were both seeing many monster tracks checking out this area. It meant that there were many monsters coming here for shelter or water nearby.
"I would say that this is most likely a lake right? If it was the ocean right away then there would be the smell of saltwater." Current agreed with what Walker was saying.
"It's more than that. This is the spot right before the ocean. The water flowing from multiple rivers and streams flows in to this lake then filters through a marshland to the ocean. Slowly becoming saltwater." Current had sensed all of this the moment that they started to feel the light and stepped out. But what was astounding was what the group saw as they followed him through the cat tails and in to a more open space.
Flowing reeds and other taller plants seemed to stretch around a massive body of fresh water. Even beyond that, the group could see the water moving through the land in snaking streams before it connected to the vastness of the ocean. A slight breeze carried the smallest of hints that the ocean was beyond this. If the group was not standing where they were, then they would not have been able to tell where they were at all.
"I will be back." Current did not hesitate to take his full dragon form and dive in to the waters before him. The desert had taken its own toll on him. But right now, he was faced with the comfort of water. Naturally, he would be surrounded by it.
"We should do a little scouting too. There were a few monsters to handle but they were not as big an issue as I thought they would be. We just have to get a good place to set up camp then guess where the ancient race went." Walker calmly made the plan while pointing to a few directions. He was going to take to the air with Midnight to get a better above ground look at what might be here or there.
The others looked ready to make a camp as well. Some of the lingering effects of their recent battle still sat with them. They could feel the tiredness that still hung out in the back of their minds. It would be a little while longer before they were all back to perfect states. Not that it was an issue to feel a little tired. That kept them honest and from overworking themselves.
Remey on the other hand, was already searching for herbs. Walker gave Gil a little nod to let him know to keep an eye on her. She might wander off in her focus and end up gathering every herb here. Not that it was an issue, this way just unknown territory. Splitting up would be a poor decision.
As Walker stepped in to the air and took the scene in better, he understood the majesty of the marsh. The different environments mixing differently than the swamps he had seen before. It was very peaceful and perfect for life to grow. Not to mention the multiple different elemental manas constantly shifting. It was a great place for natural mana to exist.
But what he saw in the distance was what caused his smile to grow. Walker could see all the way to the distant ocean. All the way across the water and toward the large islands off the coats. The islands that he would rush to if he was trying to escape something on the main land that he believed would plague the entire mainland.
The ocean was dangerous. Therefore, it was the perfect barrier that nature created. So what if a few people perished crossing it. If they were trying to save their species, then they would make that sacrifice.
Since Walker put his mind in their shoes, he knew that he would be able to check this palace for signs that a race had been there. The islands were his hunch. A near perfect hunch. All he had to do was get everyone on board with searching it after they rested.
….
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