Chapter 74: The Expedition

After saying goodbye to Eldrek and Gronn, I went to find Aeryn. I walked toward the pen where the skarnill were kept. From a distance, she spotted me and, as if recognizing me, trotted quickly in my direction. I opened the gate and, taking her by the reins, she greeted me with an affectionate nudge. Aeryn had already become an invaluable companion to me.

As we walked together toward Kaerith’s tent, I stroked her neck. “I hope Kaerith isn’t too upset, Aeryn,” I murmured. In response, Aeryn let out a soft grunt that I couldn’t quite interpret, but it made me smile nonetheless.

When I reached Kaerith’s tent, nerves began to settle in. I stopped for a moment before addressing the nagas guarding the entrance. “I’ve come to pick up some potions,” I said, trying to sound calm. One of the guards nodded and went inside. From where I stood, I could hear part of the conversation.

“My lady, the warrior Darius is here for some potions,” the naga informed her in a deep voice. Kaerith’s response was immediate and full of disdain: “I don’t want to see that fool. Give him the bag.” Her words were loud enough for me to hear outside. I figured it was intentional.

I waited in silence as I heard the naga moving inside the tent. Shortly after, he came out with a medium-sized bag and handed it to me. “Here you go,” he said bluntly. I took the bag and nodded in thanks.

I quickly opened it to check its contents. Inside were ten potions, enough to share in case any lizardfolk were injured during the exploration. I thanked the naga again and headed toward the village gates, Aeryn walking by my side.

At the gate, the lizardfolk were waiting for me. I counted eight of them, all mounted on their muscular Drakkin. One of them stood out from the rest, not just because of his bearing but also his arrogant attitude. He approached me with a less-than-friendly look.

“Move it, human. We’re not waiting all day,” he snapped sharply. I didn’t respond. I simply guided Aeryn toward the gate, placing myself at the front of the group. The massive gates began to open slowly, creaking under the strain.

I took one last look at the village before leaving. From a distance, I saw Eldrek and Gronn watching me, their expressions serious but filled with confidence.

“Let’s go,” I ordered Aeryn, and she began to move steadily. The lizardfolk followed, maintaining a tight formation behind me. As we left the village, I felt a mix of responsibility and determination. This was just an exploration, but every step could bring us closer to answers—or to new dangers.

I led the way, but I soon realized I had no idea where to go. I wasn’t familiar with nearby villages or landmarks. I thought about asking the lizardfolk, but the very idea irritated me. Every time I tried talking to them, all I got were hostile remarks or grunts.

A noise behind me caught my attention. One of the lizardfolk approached, riding his Drakkin. My first instinct was to expect the worst—surely, he was coming to complain or snarl at me about something. As he got closer, I noticed he was different. His long legs and slender frame were a sharp contrast to the others, who were more robust and stocky. Two short daggers crossed his back, a detail that piqued my curiosity.

“I’m Khoryn,” he said in a rough voice, though not a hostile one. This took me by surprise. It wasn’t common for a lizardfolk to speak without venom in their words.

“I’m Darius,” I replied cautiously.

Khoryn offered a faint smile. “I know. I saw you fight in the swamp. What you did there was truly impressive.”

I didn’t know how to respond. A normal conversation with a lizardfolk was the last thing I expected. “Well… thanks,” I said, trying not to sound too incredulous.

Khoryn tilted his head slightly. “Tell me, Darius, where are we headed?”

I swallowed hard, a little uneasy. “Honestly, I don’t know these lands well. I was thinking of asking you about the nearby villages we could visit.”

“Of course,” he replied. “The closest ones are the Firbolgs, Thalven, Veldraens, and Kivorians. Each has its own traits. The Firbolgs live in harmony with the forests, protecting rivers and animals. The Thalven are experts in farming and livestock; their villages are in fertile plains. The Veldraens live near lakes and are masters of pottery and construction. The Kivorians, on the other hand, live near rivers and work with minerals and clay.”

“Perfect,” I said with a hint of relief. “Those should be enough for the exploration. Let’s start with the Firbolgs.”

Khoryn nodded. “Their village is in the Lunarias Forest, an area of rivers, lagoons, and abundant wildlife.”

“Lead the way,” I told him, and he took the lead with a firm stride. The group followed, picking up the pace on their Drakkin. I adjusted Aeryn’s reins and joined them.

After about an hour, we reached the Lunarias Forest. Khoryn stopped his Drakkin and pointed ahead. “We’re here,” he announced.

The place was humid but pleasant. Tall trees covered the sky, letting beams of light filter through their branches. From above, birds sang, and the sound of flowing water could be heard in the distance. Despite everything, there were no signs of the Firbolgs.

“Where are those tree-hugging cowards?” one of the lizardfolk grumbled impatiently. “We should’ve seen them by now,” added another.

“Khoryn, is that normal?” I asked, somewhat concerned. “Shouldn’t we have found them by now?”

Khoryn scanned the area intently. “No, this isn’t normal. They’re usually scattered, tending to the forest.” Suddenly, he lifted his head and sniffed the air. His reaction caught my attention.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“What is it?” I asked.

“There’s a strange smell,” he said seriously. “Rot.” The other lizardfolk began reacting the same way, picking up the scent. I still couldn’t detect anything.

“Lead us,” I ordered. “Pick up the pace.”

We advanced quickly toward the source of the smell. Little by little, I began to notice it as well—a pungent, unpleasant stench. We arrived at a village hidden among the trees. The houses were partially destroyed, built with materials that respected the environment but now appeared abandoned and damaged.

We slowed our pace as we entered. On the ground, we saw some Firbolgs lying unconscious or dead. Further ahead, a few wounded ones stared at us with fear. One of them began yelling in a language I couldn’t understand, alerting the others who could still move. Immediately, the Firbolgs gathered their injured and started running, retreating as best they could.

I quickly dismounted from Aeryn. “We’re not here to harm you!” I shouted, raising my hands as a sign of peace. I turned to the lizardfolk and commanded, “Stop!”

The lizardfolk obeyed, though their displeasure was evident. Their disdainful looks made it clear they disagreed, but they didn’t challenge me. I watched the Firbolgs, hoping my gesture would be enough to earn some of their trust.

The more injured Firbolgs stopped and studied us carefully. Their narrowed eyes seemed to assess our intentions. After a few seconds of tension, one of them raised a hand and yelled something in their language, calling out to the others. Gradually, those who had been trying to flee also halted, though they still showed distrust and fear.

“What the hell are these bastards saying?” one of the lizardfolk grumbled from the back, his tone dripping with impatience and disdain.

I turned toward him, fixing the group with a firm look. “Avoid making offensive comments,” I ordered in a clear voice. “We need information to find out if this is connected to the beings that have been attacking us.”

The lizardfolk muttered under their breath, but none of them spoke up again. Their displeased expressions were still obvious, though.

The Firbolgs, seeing that we made no hostile movements, began to look at me with curiosity and a hint of worry. It was clear they were exhausted. I stepped forward slowly, hands raised, showing I had no intention of attacking.

“I’m Darius,” I said in a calm voice. “We come from the village of the demi-humans. We’re on an expedition to investigate humanoid beings with scaly skin that have been attacking us.”

The Firbolgs exchanged nervous glances, and one of them, who could still walk somewhat steadily, stepped forward. His body was covered in scars, and he spoke with a thick accent that made his words a bit hard to understand.

“I am Aelther,” he said, bowing his head slightly. His tone was polite but also strange, almost solemn. “Our village was attacked recently. They destroyed our homes, the forest, and… took some of our people.”

A knot formed in my stomach at his words. The method sounded all too familiar. I clenched my fist in frustration before responding. “I’m sorry for what happened to you. Could you tell us more about what those beings were like?” I gestured for Khoryn to approach and listen as well.

Aelther nodded, visibly affected. “They were merciless creatures. Their skin was grayish and scaly. They had strange abilities, controlling the wind in a dangerous way.” He paused, breathing deeply, his eyes filling with tears. “And there was an old man. A figure with a human appearance, but… he observed everything from the shadows, as if he were the one leading them.”

Before I could respond, an elderly Firbolg approached unsteadily. He wore tattered cloth and had a face covered in intricate tattoos. His slow steps and deep gaze commanded respect.

“That being was not human,” he said in a grave voice. “It is a malevolent creature of great power. An ancient one.”

Aelther bowed his head slightly toward the elder. “He is our shaman. He can perceive things we cannot. He believes that old man is an ancient being.”

Khoryn furrowed his brow. “An ancient being? A mage?”

The shaman slowly shook his head. “Not just any mage. This is a being with unmatched mystical abilities, capable of creating life and destruction. But it is not like the other being of the same kind that resides in the Velkar Mountains.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean? Another being with the same abilities?”

The shaman nodded with a sorrowful expression. “Yes. They were the first to exist. But one of them strayed from their purpose and is now behind all of this.”

His face reflected deep pain, as if speaking these words hurt him.

Could it be possible? I thought, trying to process what I had just heard.

“Are these two beings you mentioned… the so-called sages?” I asked, fixing my gaze on the shaman.

Before he could answer, a gust of wind swept through the area with force. The weakened Firbolgs were knocked to the ground, while the lizardfolk and I managed to stay on our feet, though we staggered. The Drakkin roared in agitation, shifting nervously. I shielded my face with my arm, struggling against the power of the wind.

“A storm?!” I shouted, trying to make myself heard over the howling air.

“It’s them!” the shaman yelled, raising his voice desperately. The wind was so strong it was hard to catch every word.

In the distance, the sound of heavy, fast steps echoed through the air. Many of them. The wind didn’t let up, making it difficult to see beyond a few meters.

“Prepare your weapons, brothers!” Khoryn roared from the back, his voice brimming with fury.

Through the gusts, figures began to emerge. Scaly creatures, charging toward us with ferocious intensity. I drew my sword as the lizardfolk, riding their Drakkin, let out battle cries filled with exhilaration. Overcome with euphoria, they charged headlong at the enemy without hesitation.

I moved forward as well. Their numbers were slightly greater than ours, but not by much. My eyes locked on two figures at the back of the group. They were controlling the wind, clearly the source of our struggle to hold our ground.

“This time, I won’t hold back.”

The battle erupted. The Drakkin rammed into the creatures, sending some flying with their massive force. However, others managed to knock the lizardfolk off their mounts, creating a chaotic melee. My sword moved swiftly, cutting down the enemies trying to block my path. The chaos within me surged, pushing me forward with greater speed as I moved along the flanks toward the two controlling the wind.

With precise movements, I caught one of them by surprise. My blade sliced through its neck, decapitating it with a single, clean stroke. A guttural shout escaped me as I struck. The other creature, witnessing its companion fall, turned its focus to me, sending a gust of wind in my direction. I dodged it and countered, slashing its hand before it could attack again. It let out a cry of pain, stumbling back.

“I won’t let you attack any more villages!” I shouted, advancing relentlessly.

The creature, desperate, swung a heavy blow toward me. I sidestepped with agility, closing the distance between us. Without giving it a chance to recover, I grabbed its face with my hand, forcing it down to the ground. My anger burned hot within me.

“Say goodbye, you bastard!” I growled through gritted teeth.

From my hand, the chaos surged, a dark mist enveloping its head completely. The creature’s screams faded as it writhed on the ground, its body convulsing until it finally fell still. I released my grip and stood, watching the mist dissipate, leaving its head mangled and lifeless.

I turned my attention back to the battlefield. The lizardfolk were fighting ferociously, their Drakkin biting and ramming into the scaly creatures with brutal force. But the enemy wasn’t backing down. Their attacks were swift and precise, managing to wound some of the lizardfolk’s legs and bodies. Despite their size, the lizardfolk’s tough skin allowed them to withstand the strikes.

I ran toward the fray to help. In the chaos, I spotted Khoryn fighting. His movements were a stark contrast to his companions—agile and precise. He weaved between attacks, evading strikes and delivering quick, calculated cuts with his daggers. However, I noticed that these creatures were tougher than expected, enduring blows that would have incapacitated most opponents.

The battle was far from over.