They walked another full day without spotting any trace of a town.

Witt periodically summoned magic to soar into the air, scanning the horizon for any sign of human habitation. Each time, he landed heavily, disappointment etched on his face.

He accepted the half-cut prickly pear cactus Kaelxi handed him. She’d handled every meal since Witt’s last attempt. After she’d explained the cleaning method, he’d rushed to try it—only to end up with a mouthful of spines. Kaelxi had plucked them out while he gaped like a crocodile, half-amused and half-concerned. *Do crocodiles eat the birds that clean their teeth?* she’d wondered. *Other crocodiles might not. But this one? Unpredictable.*

Since then, Kaelxi had forbidden him from touching the cactus. Better to spend extra time meticulously removing every spine herself than watch him suffer again. She genuinely hated seeing him hurt.

Witt always devoured her prepared cactus strips with relish. Kaelxi grew suspicious. *Could it actually taste good?* Hunger gnawed at her after hours of walking. She nibbled a fresh strip—and nearly spat it out.

"Horrible texture! Sour and bitter! That faint coolness doesn’t save it," she forced down the bite despite her empty stomach. "It’s like chewing discarded sugarcane pulp mixed with aloe gel and vinegar!"

Watching Witt savor his portion like a delicacy, she finally understood his earlier words: *"Anything Kaelxi feeds me tastes wonderful."*

Now, as Witt chewed his cactus, something strange caught his eye.

The scorching sun warped the distant air above the dunes. Heat shimmered off the sand in visible waves. A hot whirlwind skimmed the desert floor, kicking up dust. Countless grains glittered like molten gold under the light—dazzling, almost blinding.

Witt squinted, swallowing hard to clear his vision. Then his eyes widened. He grabbed Kaelxi’s arm, jolting her. The ice cube she’d been cradling slipped, shattering on the sand.

"Pouting, she snapped, "What is it, careless Mr. Witt?"

"Kaelxi! Look! An oasis!" His voice trembled with excitement. "People live there! The Desert Kingdom is ahead!"

Through the heat haze, Kaelxi saw it too—a patch of green in the barren wasteland. Lush trees and grass stretched toward the horizon, as if the desert’s deathly grip had finally broken. Beyond the foliage lay a still, mirror-like lake reflecting the azure sky.

Kaelxi’s cracked lips parted. Thirst had clawed at her throat for hours. Without this oasis, she might’ve resorted to licking the ice cube like a kitten—*in front of Witt!* She cherished her dignity too much for that.

"Witt, let’s run!" she cried, dashing toward the green haven with him.

But the closer they got, the more the oasis wavered.

"Kaelxi… is it just me? It’s fading," Witt murmured, confusion clouding his face.

"Blast it! A mirage!" Kaelxi hissed. Knowing more optics than Witt brought zero comfort now.

"A… mi-rage?" Witt had never heard the term.

Kaelxi’s frustration flared. *Must I really lick ice like a catgirl in front of him?!*

Like a tower glimpsed through sea mist,

Gleaming with starlight, draped in moonbeams soft—

The oasis dissolved under Witt’s puzzled stare and Kaelxi’s ashamed glare.

"The oasis ran away?" Witt still didn’t grasp it.

"Idiot! It was an illusion…" Kaelxi explained exhaustively until he vaguely understood.

"So that’s how it works! You’re amazing, Kaelxi!" Witt nodded, still fuzzy on refraction but awed by her knowledge.

"Of course!" Basking in his admiration felt sweet.

Then thirst slammed back into her. "Witt… can you make smaller ice cubes? Candy-sized?" *So I can pop them like sweets instead of licking!*

"Sorry, Kaelxi. The heat’s draining me. I can barely conjure water now." He wasn’t lying. Flying in this furnace while sustaining a large ice block had nearly emptied his vast reserves.

"If you’re thirsty, drink the water I make!" Witt offered, unfazed—he’d gotten moisture from the cactus. He cupped his palm; clear water pooled there.

*Worse than licking ice!* Kaelxi would rather die than lap water from his hand.

"Witt… can you hold your hand to my mouth? Like a bowl?"

"It’ll spill easily. This is all the water my magic can muster."

Kaelxi nodded stiffly. Thirst outweighed shame. Trembling, she lifted his palm. With extreme embarrassment, she extended her pink little tongue, lapping the water drop by drop.

A ticklish warmth spread across Witt’s palm. He gently stroked her golden, fluffy hair with his free hand. "Such a good, cute kitten."

*Pervert! So you like catgirls, huh?!* Kaelxi seethed inwardly. *Once we reach Dycet, I’ll hire dozens of catgirls to play with you until you can’t get back up!*