Trinity of Magic

The atmosphere had changed ever since the caravan had entered the oasis. Zeke had felt the shift as well. The surrounding flora, beautiful as it may be, seemed to be full of dangers.

"Attention!" Rahul yelled. He was one of the three Grand Mages and the leader of the guards. "For the next hour, I want all of you to focus — no distractions, no playing around. This might only be a silver-level zone, but I am not taking any risks."

"Yes, sir!" the men replied in unison. From their quick and coordinated response, it became clear that the guards were well-trained. Each of the two other Grand Mages led half of the 20 True Mages, with Rahul functioning as the overall commander.

Zeke and Leo, for their part, were not integrated into this command structure. The two of them had the freedom to act on their own, but this also meant that they couldn't expect somebody to rush in and save them, were they to get into trouble. But Zeke wasn't worried.

Luckily, the carriages made quick progress, as they didn't have to cut their way through the vegetation. The well-maintained path led right through the heart of the oasis. Their destination was a fortified post on the far side, close to the water. They would need an hour to reach it, and this was the last leg of their journey for the day.

Zeke and Leo walked along their carriage, flanking it on either side. For now, everything was calm, and Zeke used this time to study the greenery. The emerald leaves of the palm-like trees glistened in the dappled sunlight, their fronds swaying with a gentle, almost hypnotic rhythm.

The ground beneath his boots was a soft carpet of lush, velvety moss that seemed to pulse with a faint glow. Vibrant blue and purple flowers adorned the moss, their sweet scent filling the air with a heady, intoxicating fragrance.

It was such a stark difference to the wasteland from moments ago. From a barren prairie into a tropical paradise with nothing but a few steps, it was unlike anything Zeke had experienced before. He couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration. Reading about desert oases and experiencing their miracles for himself were worlds apart. This was a sight he wouldn't soon forget.

Zeke reached out to touch a nearby tree, marveling at the smooth, silver bark that seemed to shimmer like liquid metal. As his fingers made contact, a delicate cascade of tiny, glowing lights trickled down from the leaves above, like stardust.

"Breath-taking," he murmured to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

The carriage rolled on, the wheels creaking softly as they navigated the winding path through the enchanting oasis. Zeke noticed that the vines hanging from the trees were alive with movement, their tendrils gracefully weaving together in intricate patterns as if they were engaged in a secret dance.

A soft, melodic hum filled the air, and Zeke realized it was coming from the luminous butterflies that flitted among the blossoms. Their wings shimmered with a rainbow of colors, and they left trails of glowing powder in their wake.