Author's Note: Well, well, well. It's been a bit, hasn't it, ladies and gentlemen? Where we last left off, The Lizardmen and their warmblooded compatriots were preparing to head off to investigate some unknown portents at the region of Duscur. I know many of you are a bit...impatient when it comes to reading new content, but I assure you it would be all worth it in the end.
Oh, and by the way, that untranslated message from the last chapter essentially said something along the lines of the Slann telling them of something important at Duscur they need to investigate, along with bringing their warmblood allies if necessary. I didn't realize I haven't translated it until just after I posted the chapter, my apologies.
And with that, without further or do, here is the newest chapter of:
The Crests of the Saurian
The Secret Plague of Duscur, Part I
The Lizardmen swiftly returned to the monastery a couple of hours before the rise of dawn without anyone, with the obvious exception of Hubert, not being any wiser about their quick supply visit to the isolated Dragon Isles their race now calls home. Ar'racx had now gotten himself a proper weapon in the form of a Standard Two Handed Macuahiutl-Pattern Chainsword as his main weapon for the moment until he could receive a better one whilst Nax'ih-chek wields the Sacred Blade of Quetzl given to him by Nakai before he left on one of the Exodus Engines, the weapon itself being modified sometime afterwards to accommodate for the Ancient Kroxigor's now enormous size.
As for Byleth and the Blue Lions, they've been allowed to join the Lizardmen on behalf of the Church of Seiros as the remaining peoples of Duscur have incited some form of uprising within the region currently watched over by House Kleiman along with their official mission being given to them now since they've heard about the incident from which Lord Lonato of Gaspard, Ashe's adoptive father as they're told, went missing two weeks ago with reports coming from many accounts saying that he was sighted along with his militia within the region.
Byleth ensured that every one of the students within his ward was thoroughly prepared for what's to come so there wouldn't be any issues that would impede them, especially Ashe since the boy was not only adopted after his parent's death with his siblings, but also indebted to him due to being recommended to Garreg Mach by the aging lord of Gaspard. As such, Archbishop Rhea had deployed Catherine, one of her finest and most trusted Knights of Seiros, along with a contingent of knights to go with them so that they could also mediate and hopefully quell the rebellion that Lonato made against the Central Church without a single loss of life.
Mateus, Holy Kingdom of Faerghus
It had been a week since the group marched from the monastery to Duscur, going through the respective Gaspard, Rowe, and Gideon territories to Mateus trying to or watch out for and gather any rumors or gossip they can get and hear about any consequencial events that led to Lonato's disappearance, to no avail.
At the moment, they're currently resting to finish some extra last minute preparations at a small known as Embercairn, being notable for its quick construction and use during the series of events directly following the Tragedy of Duscur known as the Burning of the Kingslayers to which the fort owes it name from the mass eradication of the Duscuran peoples.
As he heads to his quarters so he could settle down and retire for the night, Byleth sees Ar'racx looking up to the star constellations up in the sky in silent contemplation, wondering what's going through his mind about this whole thing with their respective missions. Sothis then manifest besides him with an expression of interest about the Lizardmen, having similar thoughts as well.
-"Truly, these Lizardmen continue to be unforseen anomalies that no one in Fodlan has ever encountered before. It makes you think about what're their origins and what's their purpose on Fodlan, don't you think?"
Byleth couldn't help but agree with that assumption as he begins to walk over the Oldblood, for some reason having feelings of trust and familarity towards the bipedal reptile. Ar'racx senses his presence and turn to look at him and, to Byleth's suprise, Sothis with seemingly no emotions on his face as she soon also realizes this as well, sporting a bemused look with a small smile on her face while putting her arms on her waist.
-"Astounding, you can actually see me, don't you? I have a feeling that I would get similar reactions from your companions as well. Well, both of us would like to ask you something that's been on our minds since we left the monastery, so could you give us an answer for us, please?"
Ar'racx thought about it for a few moments before giving them a nod to speak out about the questions, hopefully nothing too major or intrusive to my main objective, he thought in his mind. Sothis put her hands together, elated that one of the thoughts in her mind was going to be answered right here and now.
-"Excellent! Now then since we're here, tell us, what in Fodlan's name ARE you?"
Ar'racx simply stared at Sothis with a cold impassive look for a while as Byleth shifted his gaze between the two, feeling like he could cut the tension in the air with only just a wave of his hand, before the ancient Saurus finally gathered up the words he could use as a reply.
-"What I truly am to warmbloods such as them is a concept that is currently beyond your collective comprehensions only for the present, except for probably the both of you perhaps. When the Time of Reckoning draws near, ALL would come to truly discover the significance for which the both of you would come to influence not just the world itself, but of those that lie beyond. Such concepts may be beyond your knowledge and understanding for now, but all shall come to its absolute completion, one way or another."
With his piece said, Ar'racx then walked off to find a place in the outdoors to take watch for the night as Byleth and Sothis stood there, with the latter being a bit miffed that her question went unanswered but was more confused than anything about what the Oldblood meant before she, along with the former, also elected to retire for the night.
When sunrise came the next morning, everyone in the group was well rested and were more than ready to march into Duscur as Catherine leads the knights ahead, forming a de-facto vanguard to go head of the main host as they marched towards the Duscur region of Faerghus, arriving by high noon.
As they marched towards their destination, a few of the Blue Lions students decided this would be a fine opportunity to make do with some small talk with the Lizardmen about some topics that the latter would hopefully share with them. Out of the students, Felix was the first to walk up to Tehéx'lol-tek as the Skink met the bluenette's gaze when he came forth.
-"Hey! We didn't manage to have a proper match against each other, Prophet. When we engage with the enemy, I would like to fight alongside you so I could see you in action and see if you're really good with that blade of yours as you say you were."
The High Priest of Sotek simply nodded to his words as he felt something within the young man, seeing it through Felix's eyes but not knowing what it might be. Tehéx'lol-tek put these thoughts aside as he soon came to walk alongside the heir of Fraldarius, both in silent acknowlegdement and contemplation, as both Annette and Mercedes promptly approached Nax'ih-chek himself, with the Kroxigor Ancient in question having to kneel down and tilt its massive head just to see them. At first, the two girls have to take a few steps back due to crocodilian's immense size as it knelt down before Annette came forward with a big smile on her face.
-"Hey there, big guy! Me and Mercedes here would just like to make you and your companions feel more welcome to our House during your stay with us. Isn't that right, Mercie?"
-"Mmm-hmm, that's right Annie! We've both been thinking lately about not being able to give all of you the proper welcome to not just the Blue Lions House, but also to Garreg Mach as well. So we've been thinking about if we could share a few stories together about each other so that all of us could know each other better. How about that?"
Nax'ih-chek thought about the question in quick but efficient contemplation. True, it would mean telling the warmbloods about the Lizardmen more than they could keep as a secret, but as an exchange of information, their hosts could also tell more of their own history and events that could be beneficial to the Children of the Old Ones if his compatriots would come to agreeing with it as well.
The Ancient Kroxigor then looked towards the female duo and spoke to them in a more broken tongue compared to the other reptilians.
-"I.. Shall... Tell. Others.. About. Proposition..."
Annette and Mercedes both grew bright smiles upon hearing the response and said a quick thank-you to the enormous crocodilian before running back towards the group as Nax'ih-Chek watches them for a minute before standing up and trekking onwards towards their destination.
High Noon, Duscur Region, Holy Kingdom of Faerghus
The group arrived at the destination they were to meet up with Catherine's vanguard and were waiting for their return from scoping out the surrounding area. Dimitri and Dedue were currently explaining more of Duscur and the Kingdom's shaky history with one another along with the eventual culmination of the Tragedy of Duscur and how the region's people were almost completely wiped out during the aftermath, and how Dimitri saved Dedue's life and made him his retainer.
As for the Lizardmen, they all felt something that seemed ominous and foreboding the very instanst they stepped foot upon these lands. To them, the air had a slight stinge of something that they've encountered before in the past, but couldn't figure out what it truly is. Ar'racx could fell it deep within himself that whatever it is, this force would do everything and anything possible to ensure that trespassers would not dare to get out alive.
If anyone had something that would told them the time, it would had been close to about an hour before Catherine and her vanguard patrol returned, with less than half of her men than when they've left to go out with. It was very clear to see their very shaken up by something that caught them by suprise, based upon the numerous injuries that are seen across their bodies. Of those that're injured, Catherine had the least, but at the same time, the most greivous of them all with a single large gash that ran across her back.
-"Tch... whatever they were out there caught us off guard real good! If... only I had seen them sooner..." Catherine said as she then came down to her knees due to her agonizing wounds. Naturally, Mercedes, being the only healer in the entire group, ran over to heal the survivors of what was once the vanguard while Dimitri and Byleth came to Catherine's side to give her some support as they stand her up.
While the warmblooded humans try to recover and heal up what injuries they had, Tlauil-qrek'ekko had already dispatched Chatz'axyutl ahead to discover what had attacked Catherine group and to also scout for any kind of abnormal disturbances that lie hidden within throughout region, knowing very confidently that the Chameleon Skink is more than capable of defending himself, especially when he's alone with no one to worry about or look out for; as always are the ways of Huanchi's blessed spawnings.
As for the Chameleon Skink in question, Chatz'axyutl has so far found little evidence of what attacked Catherine and her knights. But despite such little yield, he presses forward with his task in mind. He wasn't a highly respected individual even amongst the Lizardmen without good reason, skills aside of course.
Chaz'axyutl continues on his path before he finally comes upon what he heared earlier from around 4 miles away with his enchanced hearing, going into a full stop within milliseconds, camouflaging himself into the surrounding environment, being practically invisible to all but those with the keenest of eyesight, as the reptilian sees a small posse of three people come into view. The dark brown skin that shows easily marks them out as being the 'Duscurans' that Dedue talked about, considering that the retainer is one as well.
Chaz'axyutl, naturally, begins to slowly come closer to them without making a sound as he makes his approach, the warmbloods none being the wiser of his presence. The Chameleon Skink stops just a few yards away as he hears their small talk about any happenings of importance within Duscur.
-"So when are we going to just up with our fellow brothers and sisters with the main force so we could march upon those vile white-skinned devils to achieve our vengeance long overdue?"
-"Not just yet, my friend. We'll have to wait just a bit sooner as soon as we make the final deal with our new allies... Then we could march on the wretches of Faerghus."
-"Yeah! I can't wait to- SLUURP- see the looks on their faces when we crush them with those Svreng warriors from the north."
-"Yes indeed. Soon, Duscur shall experience a rebirth- Cough Cough - unprecendented in Fodlan's history, perhaps even opening the eyes of the worshippers of the 'false-goddess' they like praying to on their hands and knees so much."
It was at that moment Chaz'axyutl knew that he had to report back to the Skink Astronomer immediately. Based upon that brief little dialogue, he knew of what they speak of; after all, The Children of the Old Ones waged war against it since time immemorial. For now, retreat back to prepare for later.
The third person in the group remained silent as the other two continued to be gleeful at payback for the livelyhood and culture that was burned away with the Burning of the Kingslayers. The person then looks up to the sky and spread his arms wide as if he's opening wide for a wide embrace as a sickening grin with a rotting mouth spreads to cheek-to-cheek.
-"Soon, almighty Grandfather. Soon... all would feel your inexorable touch upon this world once more."
Ashe had been worried sick ever since he recieved the news of his adopted father's disappearance, and with good reason. Ever since the death of his parents, he had to take care of his younger siblings in the form of his youngest sister, Emmot, and his younger brother, Tommen, until they were taken in by Lord Lonato.
The Lord of Gaspard took them in as they were his very own children along with his late biological son Christophe, and as a result feels utterly indebted to him to becoming a knight so he could make Lonato proud. However, after Christophe's death, Lonato began to act strange despite his mourning of his lost son. Ashe could remember a couple of years after Christophe's death, rumours ran abound that Lonato's son walks the realm of the living once more despite his demise, with eventually said rumours being ultimately debunked as nothing more than the ravings of madmen and people just wanting to get some form of official attention from just about anyone.
But despite all of that, Ashe secretly wished for such rumours to have been true so that Lonato could be happy and whole again without having to worry about anything else, even if he was being admittedly optimistic about that ever happening.
The young boy continued to ponder while he sat on a fallen log until he felt a hand touch his shoudler, prompting him to turn around to see Ingrid with a concerned look on her face, wondering what was up.
-"Um, I-Ingrid, are you feeling alright? Is there something wrong?"
-"Me? I should be the one saying that to you, Ashe. You've been in this 'mood' ever since we left the monastery. I don't know how it may feel about Lord Lonato being missing, but I just want you to know that you're always welcome to voice out anything you might have to the rest of us, okay?"
Ashe looked at Ingrid with slightly widened eyes as she said that while unfettered emotions deep within threatening to emerge forth from within, but managing to keep it contained long enough to look at her back with a bright smile on his face.
-"Yeah. Thanks a lot for that Ingrid, I think that I needed that very much. I'm feeling a bit better now."
Ingrid simply smiled and gave Ashe a hug, making him blush in the process, before departing to see if her help was needed. Unbeknowst to both of them, Byleth saw the whole thing happen from afar with a small smile on his face. To him, the scene was a bit wholesome and well needed since he needed Ashe to be at top shape for what's to come ahead.
-"Oh please, you knucklehead. You may think that but deep down, you were going to reassure him yourself, aren't you?"
And just like clockwork, Sothis appears to his side once more as if it was at his beck and call. Despite the teasing however, Sothis was right in that he was going to do so himself, but seeing his students support each other, like they should -cough cough Felix and Sylvain cough cough- made it worth not interfering with.
Byleth then put his thoughts towards what Ar'racx said to them last night, about "knowing when the time was near" and that stuff. It confounds him to wondering what the Oldblood meant by that..., perhaps something that could be answered in the future but still confusing nonetheless.
A/N:
Again, I must apologize for the 2+ month long abscence. Turns out that writing's block is more impactful than I thought it would be to be honest, along with a combination of factors I don't want to bother talking about so my nagging wouldn't go on for awhile huh?And no, Covid-19 has not impeded me in the slightest. In fact, no one I know at least doesn't have, but there's that.
Besides from that, moves have begun to be made in Duscur as powers once unknown begin to reveal themselves as we go on to the next chapter.
Stay tuned for more next times on Crests of the Saurian!
Have a good day, where ever you are.