Chapter 54: The lizardmen’s backstory.

Chapter 54: The lizardmen’s backstory.

Youre finally here, little lady. Make it yourself comfortable, young scale, there is a lot we need to tell you about, Caszcur said with a small smile.

Listening to him, Tasianna and I went to sit beside Saori while Apsala went to the lizardmens side. Once I sat down, cross-legged, Rajah jumped onto my lap while his siblings sat to my sides, greeting me with a small cry before turning their eyes towards the lizardmen, keeping an eye on them.

[This is really unfair. Ive spent so much time with them, and they just leave me the moment you appear?] Saori said with a frown, glaring at me jealously as she complained.

I nervously laughed it off and began petting Rajah, ignoring Saori as she continued moping around. Saori did look very pleased, having a very rare girlish expression as she affectionately stroke Rajahs fur before I came.

It is these sorts of moments where Saori sheds her cool and stoic personality that I find the most endearing, as she drops her guard and just enjoys herself. Whether it is tailoring new clothing, collecting new ingredients, or just plain training, she shows a much softer side of herself.

I personally think it fits her better to be like this, but I ask her to do so, as she shows no reluctance about showing it nowadays. When she wants to have fun, she will act on itespecially when it concerns hunting down animals and monsters.

Now, we would first like to thank you for everything you did for our wounded scale-kins, Caszcur began. We started out on a bad foot, but you still helped. We would have lost even more of our group if it wasn't for you. We are in your debt.

The three adult lizardmen simultaneously expressed their gratitude by bowing and saying As our tails are our witnesses, we thank everybody for aiding us. May Marsven bless all of you with his shadowy veil.

Please, its alright. We were also at fault as we were equally rude due to the virigress cubs. Everything is forgiven and forgotten, Tasianna translated what I wanted to say, as I felt guilty for not bowing cause I was intending to rescue the cubs with brute force were it not for Tasianna.

I see, Caszcur let out, as the lizardmen stopped bowing. Actually, Im curious, why is it that the fairy, Tasianna, is the only one actually speaking? The wolfkin, besides for yes, no, and ok, didnt say anything else. You, little lady, I heard you speak something extremely long when we first met but you barely said anything longer than three words.

Huh, now that you said it, youre right, Caszcur, Aksmias said, praising him for his observation You can speak, right, fair-scaled one? So, why dont you speak? Does it have something to do with why the fairy is calling you Lady Hestia?

It would seem like the lizardmen have finally realized that it seemed weird that Saori and I werent speaking very much. They knew that we could speak as we did display it by saying some words in Common tongue, so their question does have merit.

The question is, should we actually answer them?

Come now you two, leave them alone, while our party pondered on giving an answer, Apsala spoke up. They must have their own circumstance, so lets just leave them alone. Besides, you two should have already noticed the hatchling smell around the little one and the wolfkinactually, we havent been introduced yet, right? My name is Apsala and I greet Hestias, our savior's, companion.

[How annoying. She does not leave me much of choice at the matter,] Saori complained to us through telepathy.

[For courtesys sake, it would be better if you were to introduce yourself, Miss Saori, but that doesnt mean that it would prevent me from doing it,] Tasianna added.

Glancing over at Apsala, it was easy to see that she was using this chance to get more information from us. I did overhear her saying that she was willing to trust in us, or at least in me, but I guess not being able to speak must have sparked a bit of curiosity in her.

Well, its not like exposing that we cant speak Common tongue fluently was that bad, nor was telling them that we could use [Telepathy] a problem. I really dont see anything stopping us from doing this beside an unnatural amount of distrust and paranoia.

In addition, Im interested in what Apsala will tell us, remembering what those quintet asked me to do.

After speaking about it among ourselves, we concluded that it wouldnt harm us to be forthright about our situation as it benefitted us if we could communicate with the lizardmen.

Please, dont be shocked, Tasianna warned the lizardmen.

Apsala tilted her head, before questioning what Tasianna said, Please, dont be shocked? What do you mean about

[Hello, it is a pleasure to have made your acquaintance, Miss Apsala. My name is Saori, I hope my Ladys abilities were satisfactory?]

Oh right, we are in public againhuh, I completely forgot about that.

Considering how much has happened ever since we met Tasianna, I completely forgot about my deal with Saori when I received my name, that she would use my Lady when we were in public. Funnily enough, I dont feel that apprehensive about it anymore. Considering that Tasianna has kept addressing me formally, I think Ive gotten completely used to it as the cringey sound of being called princess or lady was gone.

Wha-! Something just popped inside my head, Aksmias remarked as he held his head in bewilderment

Urgh, you too? Kinda sounded like a females voice, huh? What was that supposed to be? Caszcur scratched his head in irritation, as he couldnt make sense of the situation.

Saori, so that is your name, perplexed, Apsala uttered after needing a few seconds to understand the information she received through [Telepathy]. So, thats how you three have been able to communicate until nowhow is that possible? No, let me guess, its a skill correct?

[Yup, nicely guessed, Miss Apsala,] this time, I answered her. [Were using [Telepathy] to speak with everybody currently sitting at the campfire, including Rajah here and his two siblings.]

That sounded neither like Tasiannas nor Saoris voice, sois it yours, little one? Apsala looked at me, unsure if she made the correct choice.

Making a heart sign with my hands, I gave her a wink to confirm her guess, [Heya, another good guess, Miss Apsala. Hestia, at your service~]

You sound peppier than I thought, Caszcur said with a hanging jaw.

[Hey, whats that supposed to mean? How did you imagine me sounding before I started fully expressing myself, Caszcur?] I asked, shocked at what he said.

Well, adverting his eyes while scratching his back, Caszcur nervously stalled for time to think of an appropriate answer. Uh, I guess more refined cuz your posture and movements until now seemed quite graceful? Or maybe more boisterous cuz youre a mage?

H-How rude! I screamed internally as I was too dumbfounded to say it out loud.

Enough of this comedy act, Apsala stated as she massaged her temple. I shouldnt have been surprised to learn that there was a skill like [Telepathy]. So, why is it that you two werent speaking while Tasianna was?

[Well, the reason is pretty simple isnt it?] Saori answered. [Your nose guessed our age, correctly, Miss Apsala. We know how to speak in our own languages, but we have not mastered Common tongue yet.]

Ok, please drop the miss part and just call me by my name; the extra formality isnt needed among us lizardfolk, Apsala said with a sigh before nodding. Still, it is nice to finally understand. I thought it was some sort of priestess rule that prevented the little one to speak, so I thought it was weird that you weren't able to speak, Saori. That clears my questions."

I thought its cuz of that Lady Hestia stuff, Caszcur admitted. Some dragonewt appears, wearing something fancy like a mana dress with a subservient fairy and you start getting ideas.

I thought the fair-scaled one was simply angry at us while the wolfkin just wasnt talkative, Aksmias said while nodding.

What the hell? That is a bunch of misunderstandings!

Noticing that everybody had a different take on the reason for our silence, everybody started nervously chuckling. It took a bit until the lizardmen chilled down enough that they wanted to begin talking about the main purpose for this meeting.

As some of the lizardmen were worshippers of Kargryxmor, the Dragon God, those lizardmen were fanatical about it and thought that it was the correct time to finally escape. The hope that they had almost a year ago was finally reignited.

Im a worshipper of Kargryxmor, and I was also among those that fully supported the idea to escape, Apsala confessed. It was a mistake. An absolutely big mistake.

With the hope of escaping etched into their heads, the lizardmen began planning and scouting for more information, finally learning that escaping through the borders in the north was impossible, as the demi-human monsters made sure that no information could go out nor in. They didnt want their position to be found out as the construction process of their towns couldnt afford to slow down.

That's when somebody found an entrance through Avitor Peaks's mountains by a cave. Once they knew that nobody besides the lizardmen knew about it, they began stealing food, weapons, tools, and other essentials from their capturers. Once everything was at the place, they initiated their plan to free every single lizardman, regardless of their clan.

Some considered to free the other beastmen slaves, but the majority decided against it as they had no responsibility to help them. It would have been detrimental for them if every single slave fled, as it was likely that the demi-humans would chase after them at all cost, while only the lizardmen leaving would only slow down their construction process by a bit.

The plan was to escape through the cave, travel north, and then make contact with the elves. They thought they had everything planned, but

We didnt know that this hellish forest was in our way, Caszcur expressed with silent anger. We thought that it was just a normal forest and that the elves would be somewhere north. As the sun and moon as our guide, we walked north but that was when we started losing people.

Not every single of us lizardmen are proper warriors, Aksmias explained. While we know how to hunt and fight, we arent trained to kill strong or devious monsters. The hunters and soldiers that stilled lived suggested that those that can and want to fight should stand and fight, while the artisans would stay in the back and protect the women and young scales.

It worked for a time, Apsala added. People like Caszcur were able to make tools out of wood, while metalworkers kept our weapons and tools maintained. I and those that were able to use [Alchemy] started sorting through the herbs and plants, so we could start making more medicine and potions, as the rations that we stole wouldnt last forever.

[So, what happened?] I asked.

I dont know, maybe it's our own darn luck, but it just happened," Caszcur said. It was after we spent a month in the forest when we met our first real hurdle, a monster strong enough that even our warriors couldnt slay.

"We lost many of our scale-kins on that day," Aksmias continued for Cazscur. "Imagine, our group was over a hundred, and now its reduced to this amount. We thought we were safe after losing a few people, but it never ended. We started facing against toxic monsters, monsters in groups, or just a singular monster that preyed on the weakened."

Regardless, we slowly began losing more and more people, Apsala replied. Our dwindling numbers meant that we became weaker but most importantly was that we were losing warrior, scale-kins that have gained a lot of levels.

They lost the strong people, leaving those that have barely leveled to be vulnerable. Their strategy of traveling through the Belzac forest was effective when most of their enemies were weak, easily beatable in a group. However, once the actual terrors appeared and killed the skilled, the rest were left helpless.

They made it all up to the marsh, but all that remained from the group was 53 lizardmen. They were elated, finally, they were back in their preferred environment and it showed when they started to refill their provisions.

So, how did you lose the rest of your group? Tasianna asked.

Two days ago, we were once again attacked by a monster, an indomitable beast that we never guessed made its home in this marshland, Caszcur looked in the distance as he told us that. If you were in the swamp at that time, then you should have seen the monster. The giant that jumped into the air to claim its next prey.

[Ahh, the one with the giant gaping mouth? Yes, we saw it eat a few otthas on the way,] Saori said with a nodding head.

Nodding, Caszcur continued, Our group wandered too close to the lake, the place that it calls home. Not realizing where we were, we were ambushed by the beast who ate all our remaining rations.

"Nobody died, but we just lost everything. Most of our tools and all the food that we saved up for the coming winter," Apsala said with a deep sigh. "In our panic, our group escaped in another area that we should not have gone to. Three giant beasts with scales and fur mixed on their body attacked us and killed the remaining hunters and warriors that we had. We were separated from there, so we have no idea if they are still alive or not.

[So, those kids wanted to get revenge against something that wiped out all your remaining warriors, while they had no idea if their friends were still there?] the three lizardmen nodded to my question. [Scheie, that is pretty stupidbut I guess that is understandable. They are their friends after all.]

[My Lady, I do not know what this is about, but you should not praise that behavior,] Saori turned to me and scolded me. [Endangering your life to save somebody else is already an idiotic thing to do but that is how friends act, correct? Still, you said those kids so are you telling me that they are trying to do it all alone? Now that is absurd.]

[Come on, Saori, they lost their friends and the people they knew in that attack, so it cant be helped that they are acting impulsive,] I argued back.

[Do not suggest acting recklessly in these sorts of situations, my Lady!] Saori insisted with sharpened eyes. [You only have one life and that is precious, especially when you have family and other people waiting for you to return home alive. Regardless of your intentions, the people that you save will not like it if you died in the process, so think about the people around you before you act on your desires.]

Scratching my head in annoyance, I had to reluctantly agree to what Saori said, despite how uneasy her words sounded to me, [Thats why I will agree to help them rescue their friends. If you believe that its stupid of them to go in alone, then Ill just go with them.]

"Hestia" Saori's eyes suddenly turned cold as a blood-red mana mist started to form around them, visibly furious as she spoke English. Are you diving into another situation like when we met Tasianna? Are you risking your life againfor a complete stranger? You do not know these people and neither do you know about the enemy this time. I respect your noble spirit but even altruism has its limit, and this is one of those times!

Saori, I-I, stumbling on my words, I couldnt get the correct words out of my mouth.

It was honestly suffocating to speak in her presence right now. She hasnt activated her aura skills yet, but it felt like she was. Her words stung a bit, reminding me about how she reacted when I decided to rescue Tasianna.

Being glared at Saori was never a nice experience, it was one of the things that I personally would like to avoid as her anger is usually cold as ice.

Uhhh, hey you two? suddenly, the person to actually break the ice was Caszcur. I know you two want to continue arguing but we kinda need

[I know, we are wasting time if we stay here,] I said so I could ignore Saoris glare for a moment. [You need to save the rest of your group, right? Im in.]

Hestia! Saori cried out, standing up. Did you not listen to anything that I have said?!

"I did, but at this point, I don't care. I'm strong enough to handle anything that is thrown at me, so I'll go and rescue them," I asserted.

Hestiayoure being reallyurgh, Saori stopped her sentence mid-way before turning her head to Tasianna. [Tasianna I apologize but I need to rely on you for this. Please, keep her safe in my stead.]

[Huh, Miss Saori? What do you mean by that? Arent you coming?] Tasianna said confused at Saoris statement.

[Somebody has to keep the virigress mother safe, and while Im at it, Ill also keep the camp safe. Take care of Hestia and let her do her childish want,] Saori declared before walking off. [I am sorryurgh, I need to calm my head.]

Saori

I wanted to say something to how she wasnt willing to help me with this but all I could do was clench my fist in frustration. Maybemaybe I could have said things differentlyIurgh.

It was decided that we would travel tomorrow morning after we all rested for the night. As thanks for my help, the lizardmen decided to treat us to dinner for tonight, despite not having enough to eat for themselves. Understanding that they just wanted to return the favor, our group agreed to their hospitality.

Although the lizardmen were having fun, being cheerful and energetic, cause of their healed wounded and that I agreed to help them rescue their scale-kins, our party wasnt in a celebratory mood.

Saori averted her eyes and looked gloomy as she kept biting her lips while slowly ate her meal. I lost my appetite and wasnt able to put anything into my mouth, while I kept brooding about my choice and if it was worth worrying Saori. Tasianna tried to get us to reconcile but as we both ignored everybody, not even speaking a single word, it was all unsuccessful.

Once daylight came, Caszcur, a few of the guards, Tasianna, and I departed for the rescue mission.