Alvaric, Serya, and Valka arrived at the city of Vashtraal. When they got there, they were warmly welcod. Everyone showed respect to Serya. As they approached, the guards at the gate—snake-type demi-humans ard with spears and wearing armor—imdiately saluted Serya.
"Miss Serya, welco back," said one of the guards.
Serya only nodded calmly, but a faint smile appeared on her face. Alvaric looked at her in confusion, but before he could ask, the city gate opened with a slow rumble. The gate was enormous, nearly twice the size of Chillg’s gate.
"Shall I escort you?" the servant offered.
Serya raised her hand and gave a slight shake of her head. She preferred to continue walking. As they stepped inside, Alvaric was taken aback.
The city of Vashtraal was unlike any city he had ever seen.
The houses there weren’t made of wood or stone, but of compacted earth shaped with high craftsmanship. The buildings were curved, like caves or giant snail shells. So houses had short towers with ventilation holes that released warm steam.
The roads were lined with fine sand that felt soft underfoot, and the whole city felt cooler despite the blazing sun overhead.
Alvaric saw a giant blue lizard walking casually while pulling a cart, and beside it walked a woman—a snake-type woman with greenish scales, carrying a small child with golden eyes. They looked happy.
"The people in this city... are they all reptiles?" Alvaric asked.
Serya tilted her head. "I don’t know what you an by that, but Vashtraal is a sanctuary for reptilian tribes. Here, snakes, lizards, and various reptile species live together in peace. Not all places accept them because they’re seen as disgusting."
"There’s discrimination like that?"
"Of course. Our kind are among the weakest fighters, so we’re always looked down on, and... they nearly stripped our families of their rights to be part of the royal council. They truly wanted to eliminate us," Serya replied.
Alvaric, hearing that, nodded in understanding. The struggle to push each other out wasn’t sothing exclusive to humans.
Other creatures experienced the sa. Alvaric was truly surprised.
"Ah, that makes sense. Rabbit-type, deer-type, and the others—they weren’t just pushed out, they were thrown away," said Alvaric.
"That’s right. This kingdom was founded by our ancestors on the principle of ending the war among demi-humans and eradicating discrimination. But instead... discrimination has grown even worse. Especially under the current king. He’s... a fool."
Alvaric looked up. He felt sothing strange in this place, as if soone was watching him, but he couldn’t see who it was.
Alvaric tried to focus his vision. That’s when he saw a winged creature floating in the air, but it didn’t look like a demi-human. It appeared to be a different kind of entity.
Alvaric rubbed his eyes. When he looked in the sa direction again, he was shocked to find the figure was no longer there.
"What’s wrong?" Serya asked.
"Nothing."
Serya lowered her head for a mont, her voice quiet, "But our enemy isn’t just demi-humans. There’s a much greater, more terrifying force than them," she said.
Alvaric imdiately turned to her. "Are you talking about the winged creature?"
Serya turned her head quickly. "How did you..."
"I saw it earlier, up there," Alvaric replied, pointing to the sky.
At that mont, Serya’s and Valka’s eyes widened. They swallowed hard. At first, they wanted to pull Alvaric away to a safe place, but they stopped themselves.
"Just ignore it! For now, it won’t interfere with us."
Alvaric looked at Serya. "Tell ! What is it?!"
"We don’t really understand either, but... they’re said to be called Angels and..." Serya glanced around cautiously. "They are beings who open portals to foreign worlds and slaughter the beings in those worlds. That’s what I heard, and it’s supposedly the requirent to beco a high general."
Alvaric felt a sense of familiarity. It was similar to what humans did—entering portals and killing the creatures in foreign worlds—but those they killed were monsters.
"Or maybe... they weren’t monsters, but demi-human-like beings trying to defend themselves?"
Alvaric shook his head. "But those monsters attacked Earth first. It was just self-defense."
Alvaric wanted to believe that, but suddenly a thought crossed his mind, "Don’t tell ... the attackers were also manipulated by those beings called Angels? If that’s true, then the real mastermind behind all this is the Angel. But what is their goal in doing that?"
Alvaric still didn’t understand why it could happen. It truly made no sense. It was strange to him. There was a missing piece of the story he didn’t know.
"If I follow Serya’s plan, will I learn the truth?" Alvaric looked toward Serya, then turned his gaze away again.
"Whatever it is. I must know."
***
Along the roadside, rchants had opened their stalls. So sold glowing crystal eggs, ointnts made from the sli of magical earthworms, and light cloaks made of naturally shed snake scales.
Alvaric slled the fragrant aroma of unfamiliar earthy spices that stirred his appetite. He almost coughed when he saw a two-headed snake selling smoky grilled at skewers.
"Can I buy that?" Alvaric asked.
"Of course."
Without hesitation, Serya bought one and handed it to Alvaric. Without a word, Alvaric ate the smoky at. He ate greedily.
"Two more," he said.
Serya was surprised. The one skewer she bought was already gone. That was strange and unbelievable. She shook her head in disbelief.
She bought another round of skewers. This ti she bought five at once, hoping they wouldn’t all be devoured by Alvaric in just a few minutes.
But in truth, they were gone in less than 10 minutes. Serya could only shake her head.
"He’s truly a monster," she said.
Lizard children ran around laughing and spraying sand into the air. So even greeted Serya enthusiastically.
Serya gently patted their heads. She often interacted with her own people.
"Lady Serya! Lady Serya!" they shouted.
Serya bowed and greeted them one by one. Her smile beca warr than usual. Alvaric observed that change. In this place, Serya truly ca alive.
Whereas during their ti in the carriage, Serya was cold and full of authority. She appeared like a proud and arrogant princess, but the reality was different.
"I can see why they like you," Alvaric said softly.
"Here, I’m not a fighter. Just a city caretaker with so diplomatic skills," Serya replied, then stepped forward faster. "Our kind are not good at fighting."
"But you’re still an incredible woman."
Serya smiled. "Thank you."
They were taken to the city center, a wide plain surrounded by towering earth pillars that looked like giant fangs. There stood the Vashtraal Stone, the oldest stone in the city believed to be a symbol of peace.
In front of the stone, an old man with a turtle’s head awaited them. His robe shimred with light, and he carried a staff made of ancient roots.
"Miss Serya, you’ve returned... and you brought a friend from another world," he muttered.
Serya bowed respectfully. "We ca to ask for your blessing... we’re going to fight against the kingdom. Will you grant us your support?"
The old man looked at Alvaric with slow but sharp eyes. He walked slowly toward Alvaric. He gently patted Alvaric’s head.
"Ah, you have a great destiny, but you will lose so of the people you love," said the old turtle man.
Alvaric and Serya exchanged looks. The old man’s words couldn’t be taken lightly. He was a seer who had lived for around 400 years.
And what he said was nearly 99% true.
"But if you don’t get involved in Serya’s plan, maybe your life would be easier. You wouldn’t lose the ones you love."
What he said certainly troubled Alvaric. Who would want to lose their loved ones? No one. That included Alvaric.
"Can you tell another possibility?" Alvaric asked.
The old turtle man stroked his long beard. He nodded several tis. He looked at Alvaric once more.
"There is one, but... you have to kill Serya," said the turtle man.
Serya’s eyes widened. She was shocked by that answer. Serya imdiately pulled Alvaric’s hand. They hurried away from there. She shook her head in disbelief.
"Don’t listen to that crazy old man! I don’t understand why people respect him. He’s just a senile old man," Serya grumbled.
They quickly left the area. Alvaric still looked back at the old turtle man, even though Serya had already pulled his hand away.
The turtle man was seen smiling at them.
"Was he telling the truth?"
"Don’t believe his words. He often boasts nonsense. Why would you have to kill ? All I want is to save my family and kill the incompetent king. If that king is gone, the marginalized demi-humans will live more fairly. That’s what I’m fighting for," said Serya.
Alvaric remained silent for a mont before saying sothing. "Yeah."
"You don’t trust ?"
"It’s not that, I’m just confused." Alvaric looked back once more. The old man was no longer there. "Let be the one to decide."
Serya stopped. "Do you think I’m a bad person?" she asked with a look that seed disappointed.
"I can’t judge."
Reviews
All reviews (0)