Now the heat of the desert didnât bother Nemo. Unfortunately, at this moment, he had to remove all his instinctive protection and adjust his physique to the level of ordinary humans so that he could sweat smoothly and not look too abnormal.
The nursing uniforms of the Royal Military Academy of Clementine had been improved, and the menâs uniforms had been revised and cut in several places, making them more comfortable to wear. Nemo rolled up the cuffs of his uniform, wiped the sweat from his forehead, slowed down amid the complaints of the students, and fell to Oliver side, who was wearing a logistics uniform.
Making sure no one was paying attention to them, Nemo coughed twice. âIce, Ollie. The professor is too close, itâs not convenient for me to use abyssal magic.â
Then he opened his mouth at Oliver and pointed to his mouth.
âIn a few more years, itâs estimated that they will be able to clearly perceive the fluctuations in my power.â Oliver quickly stuffed a small ice cube into his loverâs mouth and also threw one in his. âTime flies by so quickly.â
âYeah, how are you going to explain it this time? The three little Godwins are pretty clever. Olivia can barely be coaxed, and Eddie is already sixteenâ He stared at you for a long time last time we had drinks with Godwin.â Nemo bit down and chew on the ice.
âBrother will find a way to explain.â
Oliver pushed off the headache errand with a hearty expression and stuffed another piece of ice into Nemoâs mouth.
âBesides, when we get our graduation diplomas from Clementine Academy, we can use them as proof of identity and legally pretend to be our own⊠uh, distant relatives? Eddie and the others are still young and using this as evidence is enough to settle them.â
âHaving said that, I donât know if Godwin and Eddie are still in the cold war.â Nemo pressed his tongue against the ice, with a little more worry in his voice.
The angry Godwin Lopez mentioned in the communication crystal a few days ago that his rebellious eldest son had refused to talk to him for three weeksâ He was obedient and behaved good during his childhood, and Godwin himself severely lacked the experience of a father and son relationship and had to turn remotely to his cousin to ask for help.
âHard to say. After all, that boy Eddie is bent on running out and becoming a mercenary straight away. I agree with Godwin on this point, heâs too young, better to study properly at the academy first.â
âYouâre sounding more and more like Flint.â Nemo smoothed his sweaty black hair with his hands.
Oliver smiled. It was still a youthful face, but his eyes were deeply matured. âLike? My dad didnât insist that I go to study in the city back then.â
âGentlemen, I can understand that you are very tired, but you still have to maintain the formation of the team. We will be at the ruins soon, and we can cook some sandpoint plum soup then.â
Even with the scorching sun, their ancient elven language professor, who was nearly 70 years old, was still very energetic. The old man raised his cane, and its tip was about to poke Nemoâs back, but it was blocked by a hand.
âYou can take a break at the end of the team, and I will help you take care of these students.â A slightly low male voice sounded.
âNo, no, Professor Wilhelm. This⊠This is too much trouble for you. Alas, in fact, I protested at the timeâ I am older, but there is no need for the Chief of Nursing to follow. This is not a dangerous expedition. Itâs just to see the desert ruins. Even if something did happen to me, the children would not be in danger.â
âDonât mind.â The middle-aged professor smiled. âThey didnât force me. I applied by myself. Anyway, there are no urgent tasks recently, so I usually stay in school longer. Thereâs some earthsea orchids near here and I wanted to get some fresh one to study its medicinal value.â
The old man scratched his face and smiled. He grimaced at the two lazy young people and walked to the end of the team with his cane.
âLong time no see, Nemo.â The middle-aged professorâs gaze softened.
It was different from when the first time they met. He wasnât sure if it was because of age or his straightened back but Hayden Wilhelm looked a little taller, and the freckles on his face had faded a lot. His hair was still curled up badly, and his somewhat big eyes had long lost their neurotic feelings and looked extremely sharp.
âHayden.â Nemo patted the other manâs arm.
The introverted young man from nursing had faded from his youthful memory. He even looked a little more solemn and had a majestic aura. He should have heard part of the truth from his wife Delia, but his attitude was as natural as ever.
âThe last time I saw you two, it should have been at Deliaâs and mineâs wedding?â Hayden said half jokingly. âI went to help support Leonard some time ago and just missed your entrance. Then once school started a bunch of trouble happened, so we havenât been able to talk properly.â
ââŠYou guys really havenât changed at all.â His eyes swept up and down the two of them, and Haydenâs voice was a bit more emotional.
âSpeaking of this, you have really changed a lot. They say that last year you sentenced 70% of your students to fail. Hayden, you havenât been like this before⊠How should I put it, harsh?â
âIn the age of peace, students are too impetuous.â
Hearing nursing-related questions, Hayden almost reflexively raised his face and became serious.
âNursing must be done with utmost care and there can be no slightest omission. Itâs not something you can get away with giggling and fooling around. 70% is already my bottom lineâ They will save peopleâs lives in the future! I tried to persuade them in the beginning, but it turns out that it was more effective to scare them.â
âNot bad for your roommate.â Oliver elbowed Nemo, âIn some ways, you think exactly the same way.â
âI couldnât imagine you quarreling with Delia before. I just gained the ability to imagine,â Nemo commented solemnly.
âDelia, she⊠I can understand a little of the despair she has suffered as well as the feeling of being belittle and denied. But, uh, you guys know. There are times when her decisions still lack humanity, and I canât help butâŠ. quarrel. She at least listens to me, and I can understand some of her difficulties.â
Hayden coughed a little embarrassedly and touched the wedding ring with the royal emblem on his ring finger.
âMost of the time, the two of us actually get along pretty well.â
âI take back my words. Itâs not called âbickeringâ. Itâs closer to âintense communicationâ.â Nemo smiled and shook his head. âHow is she doing lately?â
âPretty good. She just keep talking about wanting to see Ms. Savage. Recently, Ms. Savage and Mr. Salter went on an adventure in the wetland jungle, and itâs not easy to get in touch. How about you guys? I remember that this expedition was signed up voluntarily. The two of you donât seem to like this lively stuff.â
âThere are acquaintances of ours nearby, so we stopped by to see and bring back a couple of earthsea orchids. Olivia has been clamoring to see it for a long time and the variety is so fragile that we have to ask an expert for tips on breeding them.â
Oliver didnât hide the nostalgia on his face.
âAfter all, the ruins of the desert is near Caleb Village. The two of us will laterâŠâ
âEnemy attack! Itâs an intermediate demon!â The combat major in the front row issued a warning, interrupting Oliverâs unfinished words. âMages prepare! Wait, wait, theyâre charging to the back! The logistics team spread out immediately!â
However, the demon that attacked moved faster.
The senior commander of the team leader was in a cold sweat at the timeâ The young logistics officer who was attacked didnât resist, and was pounced on by the demon. His whole body was smashed into the hot sand.
The huge white demon just pressed down on the poor logisticianâs body, quickly lowered its head and extended its long purple-black tongue belonging to the demon.
Then it licked hard on the face of the young man named âOliverâ.
The thin tail of the arthropod lizard behind the bone shell stretched straight, trembling excitedly. It licked hard, and when it was tired of licking, it rubbed its flat face twice. The scene was a bit weird for a while.
âThe arthropod lizard has a gentle personality. With me watching here, itâs not a big deal. Keep going!â Hayden raised his voice and shouted to the front of the team, his tone returning to seriousness.
Seeing only one arthropod lizard, which was used to moving in groups, came running, despite their curiosity, the students continued to move forward honestly under the order of the âProfessor Princeâ.
The arthropod lizard was still squatting on Oliver, continuing to lick with a posture that showed it wanted to lick off his face. Nemo took a breath and tapped the much larger bone shell with his knuckles.
âWhite II, right?â he huffed.
White IIâs licking stopped instantly.
Then it fell to one side, facing the sky on its back, stretched its legs straight, and pretended to be dead. The tongue that hadnât had time to withdraw its mouth was still half exposed outside.
Nemo poked the lizardâs abdomen angrily and amused. âThis trick never fooled me back then. Do you really think it will work this time?â
The arthropod lizard, which has grown two or three times in size, blinked its four eyes, and its bean-like eyes moistened to the naked eye. The originally straight tail shrank slightly, rolled into a small ball, and shook slightly.
âIt seems that the remaining power of our White I is still there.â Oliver got up from the sand and patted off the grains of sand on his body.
âI have controlled my aura this time.â Nemo soothingly touched the turned belly of the arthropod lizard.
âI know, it should remember our smell.â Oliver also stretched out his hand and touched the rough belly of the bone lizard.
Touched by Oliver, White II seemed to have temporarily forgotten its fear. It turned over and landed on all fours. In a little bit of smoke, its figure began to melt and gradually became the appearance of a fuller goat.
Then it began to rub around Oliver again.
âWant to lead the way again?â Oliver patted the fake goat on the head.
White II immediately shook its head.
âIn other words, our witch lady is doing well recently.â
The lizard that turned into a goat bleated softly.
âIt looks like it wants to follow you.â Hayden touched his chin and circled the goat twice. âIt seems that itâs an adult. Since it can act alone, it must have the permission from its pack. Let it follow for now. I didnât notice malice from it.â
Hearing the somewhat familiar comment, Nemo sighed. Oliver on one side stroked the fake goat with emotion, whispering something.
âI have a hunch that this time, it will continue to follow you⊠Ollie, do you want to raise it?â
âIf it is willing to follow me. â
âThen we have to make a sandcastle for it in the garden.â
ââŠThat sounds pretty great.â
âBut Iâm afraid I wonât be able to accompany you to Nadineâs place later, Nemo. Not to mention that in her heart, I am still an ordinary human being, and it is not appropriate to look like this, now I have to wait for you outside the village as someone has to watch White II here.â
âWell, then you have an hour to explain to our White II clearly that I didnât really want to stew it in soup back then.â
As soon as Nemoâs voice fell, the fuller goat whooshed behind Oliver.
ââŠIâll try my best.â Oliver smiled bitterly and patted the âfuller goatâ squeezed behind him.
Hayden took a few steps forward knowingly, raising sand and dust. Nemo nodded and drew a rift in the space in front of himâŠ
At the other end of the rift was a hut that was extremely warm. The flowers were still lush, and it could be seen that they were taken care of very carefully. The witchâs courtyard was decorated with an arrangement of colors filled with vibrant life.
Nemo nodded to his lover and walked happily towards the courtyard.
Rolling around was an orange blob. The cat was lying on the steps of the door, licking its tail very seriously. Perceiving the rift that opened and closed in front of it, it sneezed and meowed hoarsely at the black-haired guest in front of it.