Chapter 638 - 638 - Why

"[Reptilian] N-no, it's not like that…" The Guard Captain, Tak nervously swayed his head and his arms as he tried to deny the accusation. Though in the end, he gave a bittersweet smile as he muttered. "W-well, maybe it somewhat is, but… It's just for me, the guards, or for that matter, the church will have no knowledge about it at all! I swear to my life!"

"[Reptilian] And why would we want to do that?" Thinking about his words for a few seconds that felt like several minutes for the nervous skink guard captain, Aiden looked over at the man once more flaunting a calculative smirk on his face.

Tak gulped audibly at the sudden screening, taking a few extra moments to collect his thoughts before replying. He sighed once more, confirming his determination on revealing the crux of the matter. In the end, he reaffirmed his belief and decided to trust these figures. 

Something, that even he couldn't understand was pulling him towards this man, to this company. Tak wasn't sure what it actually was, or if it was even real and not just some illusion placed on him by the very man himself… or perhaps one of the man schemes devised by the 'Ancient One'… 

Still, he needed to do something, if he ever wanted to reunite with his family.

"[Reptilian] I-I am l-looking for someone, to be honest... Nothing bad I promise!" He spoke, hurriedly adding as he noticed the suspicious gazes focused on him. "There's this man… probably in his later years. Once served the church and even held a very high rank, but have since then turned against the High Priest and is now the de-facto leader of the Resistance…." 

His words raised several eyebrows from his audience, though most of it remained hidden beneath the cover of the hoods. Still, he could feel the many piercing gazes. Even little Tolliah jumped up slightly from the embrace she was enjoying at the moment, making her turn her little head to the side and glance at the guard captain with one eye as a response to his words.

Madam Dara was clenching the dagger in her right hand under the table harder than before. The look on her face was cold, serious. The very next words of the man would most likely decide if the outcome of their first meeting would end in a peaceful manner, or perhaps not…

"[Reptilian] Hmm… Interesting…" Aiden hummed in response. His tone did not reveal his thoughts on the matter. With his face obscured by the shadow of his long hood, it was impossible to tell what he was currently pondering about.

"[Reptilian] And what do you want from this man, if I may ask? Why are you looking for him? From what I understand, you and he are on opposing sides, are you not?" Aiden asked, giving a temporary pause, so the Guard Captain could process his questions, before adding another thought a few seconds later.

"[Reptilian] Are you perhaps, looking to gain some extra merit by setting up a trap for the man?"

Tak shook his head at the questions as soon as he was given the chance.

"[Reptilian] N-no, that's not it! I assure you!" He exclaimed. Taking an extra few seconds, he heaved a heavy sigh before reaching in to the inner pocket of his chest armor, pulling out a bronze locket from it.

Opening it, he placed the amulet on the table and pushed it towards the hooded elderly merchant leader, Aiden. 

As Aiden looked at it, he was surprised at what greeted him. 

Inside the locket, there was a small image, reminiscent in nature to his system's holographic UI, showing the family of three skinks. The only male skink, was most likely Tak himself a few years, or perhaps a decade younger standing beside and hugging a gorgeous skink woman on the left. The woman, who seemed to be roughly at a similar age to Tak, was holding a small baby wrapped in a blanket.

From the honest, bright smiles on their faces, it was clear it was taken from a much more peaceful past.

Tak awaited in silence for Aiden to closely inspect the image, not saying a word. Only when Aiden raised his head did Tak speak up, in a much lower volume. His tone -unlike before-, was filled with sadness and sorrow.

"[Reptilian] They are my family. My wife Ersa and my beloved princess Fireia. My little Fifi…" He sighed, pushing the tears that were threatening their escape before continuing. "I… We have only met a few times with this man in the past. He was an Archbishop before, someone much higher in standing than my measly rank as Guard Captain."

He revealed a bitter, sad-looking smile as he continued.

"[Reptilian] I have offended him in the past because of my misguided belief and we have fought. He defeated me, revealing a power that I have never seen before…" He said, but a moment later he shook his head, correcting his earlier statement.

"[Reptilian] No, defeat is not the right word, I guess… He CRUSHED me, without even doing as much as raising his arms, I was flung away like an arrow. Crashed into a building, buried under a pile of rubble… Heh, I almost died there… probably would have deserved it, if I'm being honest…" He reminisced, smirking at his own actions back then.

"[Reptilian] That is fine, and all…" Before he could continue his throwback to the not too distant past, the woman sitting right beside the hooded leader, Madam Dara suddenly raised her voice and spoke up. A pair of glimmering balls of stained yellow eyes could be seen lurking ominously from the shadow. 

"[Reptilian] … but you still have not explained your reason for trying to find this man. What do you want from him?" She glanced at the floating image in the memorabilia before pushing it back to the Guard Captain. "What does he have to do with your wife, your child… your family?"

"[Reptilian] What do you want from him, actually?" Another female voice came from the side, Pyre the second female captain asked the question. However, unlike her friend at the opposite side, there was no visible hostility behind her words, nor were any weapons tucked behind her sleeves. Yet, there was an uncomfortable aura, a palpable thickness in the air around her as she raised her question.

"[Reptilian] I… I…" Tak stammered with how he should respond to them. Taking a moment, he breathed in a large gasp of air, took a few seconds to keep it in his diaphragm before slowly exhaling it. 

He clenched his fists, as he reaffirmed his mind one last time and spoke the words that shocked everyone present.

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