Chapter 413: The Question

As Thuk was deep in thought, Aiden silently looked at the old lizard with a growing interest behind his eyes. Although the elderly figure didn't say much, his demeanor, mannerism, and way of speech gave away more than what he probably intended.

'He is clearly worried about his people. Although they attacked first, their intention was actually justified… A misunderstanding and the sour memories of the cruelty of this world were what pushed to this end. 

Being treated as nothing more than monsters… This is the same as it was with Roas and his orcs…' 

Aiden couldn't help but feel sad for the little guy and his hunted and shunned race. His cold outlook slowly melted, a warm smile slowly, gradually resurfaced. 

Meanwhile, the heavy pressure that pushed the Skinks on the ground faded, Aiden pulled his aura back.

Sounds of clicking and hissing could be heard as the small creatures began to stand up from the ground.

The noises of his kin brought Thuk back from his reverie. Keeping his kneeling posture, he gazed around, looking around at his brethren. Seeing that they were mostly fine, a thankful smile curved the edges of his jawline. 

Although he was already pretty much decided, this last gesture made his decision to solidify in his mind. His fate decided, he turned his attention back on the young figure in front of him. He dared not to gaze at his face but plastered on the ground. 

Before speaking, he hollered a strange clicking sound. 

Following his cry, the surrounding skins instantly fell on their knees and bowed and even kowtowed toward the black-haired youngster.

Taking a large gasp of air, their leader, Thuk spoke up.

"Oh honored andssh great Lord! Pleasshe, hear our plea!" He stopped only briefly, exhaling the air from his diaphragm and calming his senses. He wanted to be cool and collected for what he was about to state next as it would most certainly spell the future of his tribe and maybe even his entire race.

Taking one more sigh, he reaffirmed his decision in his mind, and with the firm resolution, he exclaimed.

"Oh, great Lord! Assh the prophecy foretold, let us join your causshe! Please, don't leave ussh to perissh so unjustly!"

The surrounding clinks whilst kneeling on the ground and kowtowing towards the stunned Aiden, clicked their tongues in unison, agreeing to their elder words. None showed any hesitation in their action, or in their looks. They were all in the same mind as their leader.

Looking at the baffling scene, Aiden wasn't sure how to proceed. There were still a lot of questions he wanted to ask, a lot of unknowns he wanted to shed some light on, but ultimately, he wasn't against the idea of inviting and hopefully saving this poorly fated race.

He also had a good impression of this elderly lizard. He wasn't evil, wasn't tainted with the worldly darkness. He was merely at his wit's end, they fought this strange guerilla warfare for survival. 

Yes, killing the poor, innocent residents of the slums wasn't something that Aiden could stand behind. 

However, the main problem was that he wasn't sure if revealing even more of his secrets to the royal siblings would be a wise decision.

A frown appeared on his face as he contemplated, causing the surrounding lizardmen to grow worried. What would happen to them, if the ancestor's prophecy would ultimately not come true? What if the promised return of their true master wouldn't accept them? What would be their future then?

Even Thuk wasn't certain what he should do. Did they made a mistake, and offended the Lord with their action? Has his agitated state made him do a mistake that spelled doom for them?

Are they destined to die here, and vanish forever from the world? 

His body fidgeted, as he was growing increasingly worried, yet he dared not to take any action and was silently waiting for the response from the 'Inheritor of the Ancient One' as he first exclaimed.

Drake, Scarlet, and Lily watched with puzzled, befuddled expressions as the whole event grew weirder and more and more baffling by the minute. 

What originally seemed to be a simple killing quest, was now turning into something that they are failing to comprehend. 

The royal siblings didn't really understand what was going on anymore, they had no idea what they should do. Was there even anything they could, anyway? In the end, they just stood still, looking at their friend and the kneeling small unique-looking skink leader with a complex look on their faces.

Lily, on the other hand, wasn't that worried. Although she didn't know what was really happening, she trusted his brother and knew about him. She could guess that whatever was going on, was ultimately related to Aiden's secret, his draconic origin.

Galina, however, was growing excited as she looked at his Young Master. Would they receive a new member and a new race to settle down on the other world?

She didn't want to interrupt, but her excitement seeped through the mental connection she had with Aiden.

Even without looking at his team members, or taking a look at them through the system, Aiden was clearly aware of each of their thoughts. He could also feel the growing excitement and happiness that Galina tried to hide inside her, she was clearly looking forward to the new brothers and sisters she would have once these skinks would join their growing 'family'.

In the end, Aiden sighed and nodded, taking a step forward and reaching down to raise the small elderly leader's head and pulling him up from the ground.

"Stand up, don't kneel down Thuk, leader of the Skinks." He spoke sternly, his tone was heavy, not giving away anything about his decision.

As the elder reluctantly stood up, he nervously looked at the golden-eyed human youngster with a worried look in his eyes. He wasn't sure what he should do, what he should say. 

As he was silently fidgeting, contemplating what his next course of action should be, Aiden spoke once again, firing a question at him and shocking him to the core.

"Before you speak, and answer my next question, make sure you properly think it through, as your response would forever seal not just your but all your brethren's fate. Whatever waits for you from here on, will depend on your next words." 

Aiden spoke, his words weighed heavily on the small, frail-bodied elder's mind. Thuk looked at the young man, with a growing worry, dreading but also looking forward to his next words.

Aiden gave the little skink leader a couple of seconds to process his warning. Before continuing, he looked at his team. For what he was about to do next, would reveal some of his secrets. 

His action would cause a significant amount of risk, as he would have to place his trust in these humans. Would it be worth it? Can they really be trusted?

There was no answer to these questions. He could only hope that he wasn't making a mistake with this leap of faith…

Heaving a sigh, he looked down onto the slightly trembling, nervous little skink leader, before finally speaking up and voicing the question.

"Thuk, leader of the skinks, I have heard your plea. I understand your plight. Would you be willing to place your trust in someone like me and join my cause?"