Chapter 32: Honoured Guests

Chapter 32: Honoured Guests

As I flew across the desolate landscape I noticed the sand slowly started to turn to a reddish hue. I switched my vision to see if I could spot anything and sure enough I saw some trails in the sand. The trail was faint but it was enough for me to follow. I soon saw something odd on the horizon as I followed the trail.

It was an oasis, glittering in the desolate sands. I could see something red sparkling inside the oasis. I also spotted structures near the oasis, the strange thing was that the structures looked well constructed. When I heard there was a cult worshipping some hive mind type group of creatures, I expected a bunch of shacks filled with rabid crazy people.

As I got closer I saw... well I didn’t see any rabid crazy people...

I saw what looked to be some kind of small town. This oasis was surprisingly large, I couldn’t tell at first from a distance considering it was surrounded by empty desert so I had no way to get a sense of scale. As I circled over the town I saw the buildings were made of some kind of sand coloured stone. Most of the buildings were three stories tall and they looked very well maintained.

The people below were mostly Lizard Kin but I spotted a few humans and dwarves as well. The books were right, their bodies looked... mutated. I could spot purple armored plates growing from their flesh. The skin tore where the plates emerged and it honestly looked quite painful.

There were a few that were quite far into the transformation, their backs were hunched and their arms were elongated. Their bodies were almost completely covered in armoured plates and their heads looked quite different. Their heads were now longer with a long armoured snout and I could see they now had four eyes on the sides of their head. Their irises looked different as well, almost reptilian with yellow slit-like pupils. On their backs also grew what looked to be strange red crystals, the crystals covered their back like masses of red barnacles. They walked like apes, using their arms to move forward, shambling along the streets of the oasis town. Again surprisingly they still looked quite intelligent, I could see one having a civil conversation with a Lizard Kin. I tried focusing my senses on the conversation and I started to pick up their conversation.

The Eternal Mother said we have a powerful visitor coming soon.

Really? Who is this honourable visitor?

I don’t know, but the Eternal Mother said to allow it entry.

It? So it is a beast?

I assume so.

I see, I will spread the word...

Huh... was that a coincidence? Is there something else that was supposed to be visit? Or were they talking about me? I doubt they were talking about me, I haven’t revealed myself and how would knowledge of my existence spread all the way to here? It’s not like Averlon had any contact with the people here? Or did the Syndicate have something to do with it?

Well I sure as hell am not going to just swoop down and just declare myself. What if they were expecting something else? Something powerful...

I suppose I could just maintain my flight and circle the oasis. Maybe if I continue to eavesdrop on them I’ll learn more...

As I silently observed the town from above I noticed occasionally some strange creatures appeared. These must be the Armazaftund I’ve been hearing so much about. They were strange creatures, they had long centipedes like bottom half and a humanoid like torso with two large muscular arms. Their hands were tipped with long thick claws, their hands looked very good for digging and slashing. I wonder if those claws could improve my blades...

Their whole bodies were covered with the same purple armoured plates and a similar elongated head with four eyes. On the back of each shoulder blade protruded a large red crystal. I wonder what those crystals are for? From what I can tell these are Ether Crystals, similar to the ones that were powering the barrier that imprisoned Cecilia. The crystals would pulse with energy for a few moments before dimming again. I couldn’t tell why they were doing that, but I guess I’ll find out when I get their genome. These creatures seemed powerful, they were above gold rank, as to which rank they were at I’m not sure considering I haven’t seen a Platinum or Mithril rank before.

So I waited, quietly circling the town and then I spotted a small group approaching the oasis. They were riding those weird camels with three humps. It looked like there were about a dozen riders. Were they the mystery visitor?

As I flew over to the approaching party, I sensed some of them were indeed powerful. The six of them were at least Gold Rank. Was it me or could I sense killing intent among these six? Well something told me these guys weren’t here for a friendly visit...

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

Tissa instantly drew her weapon along with the rest of her party. Her blood ran cold as she realised this whole thing was a trap. How the hell did they know?

Then there was a flash of light from Nihashir’s lantern and the smaller Armazaftund were all stunned with shrieks of agony. As Tissa got ready to attack she saw the largest ones were unaffected.

“HAHAHAHA DO YOU TRULY THINK SUCH PETTY TRICKS WOULD WORK ON THE QUEEN’S GUARD?” the creature howled in zealous ecstacy.

“NAIVE NAIVE NAIVE NAIVE NAIVEEE!!!!!!!” the creature screamed.

Then sure enough the Praetorian’s let out a pulse of energy instantly calming the swarm around them and they pounced...

In an instant Tissa found herself slammed face first into the sand. She struggled and writhed but as she looked up she saw the snarling maw of an Armazaftund growling in her face. Tissa stiffened as she realised this was as far as her journey was going to go...

They had miscalculated, they didn’t expect the higher castes to be able to override the interference from the lantern...

Their whole strategy banked on stunning the weaker ones and killing the stronger ones...

Then the creature looked up at the sky as if looking for some invisible flying creature. Then it shouted up to the heavens as loud as it could manage. Tissa could hear its voice crack and tear as it screamed with zealous fervour.

HONOURED GUEST!

WE HUMBLY PRESENT THIS GIFT TO YOU!

YOUR KIN SENSES YOU!

YOU KIN OF THE ETERNAL MOTHER!

Tissa then felt a rush of wind and the Armazaftund in front of her stepped aside revealing a golden feathered beast. It was huge, towering almost five meters tall, with wicked long blades and a serpent's tail.

“My Kin you say?” the beast said calmly in a deep rumbling voice as it turned to face the creature.

“YES HONOURED ONE!” The creature said it fell to its knees and lowered its head into the sand.

“Do you even know what I am?” the beast asked as it approached the creature.

“You are kin to the Eternal Mother, Kin to the Queen of Queens. All her children have awaited your arrival. You are the great reminder of the truth that this world has forgotten. But please if you would, the Eternal Mother can answer all questions.

For now would you partake in a meal we have prepared for your august self?” the creatures said.

“Well if I’m expected...” the beast said as it turned to face Tissa and she felt a chill go up her spine as she saw it lick its lips.

I wouldn’t want to be rude to my hosts...