Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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"You… Can speak our language?" Dale asked in surprise as he looked at the Elder Karkavan

'It's a bit rough and the dialect is also strange, but it's not a problem to understand when he speaks so slowly.'

"Indeed I can… And in the past, I… I was quite… Adept at it." He said as he thought about which words to use

"I'm afraid that now I… I can barely even speak… Co… Coherently anymore…" He said with some melancholy as he looked at his thin arms

He turned to look at Muddan.

"There was a day I was like that too, big and strong, wielding large cleaves as I rushed into battle with those of your kind." He said as his eyes sparkled

It may be hard to visualize that this old man was one day a great Karkavan warrior.

Due to his age, his arms were now extremely thin, and his height was only that of two and a half meters, about half of Muddan's height.

His overall physical appearance wasn't the only thing that diverged from the others as even his wooden mask was unique, covering only his eyes and nose instead of his entire face.

"! Wait, you fought with our kind?" Testros asked seriously, especially since he was suspicious of there being survivors of the wall

"Correct, many moons ago I did… I charged into the Red Plains and took the lives of many of those cursed creatures."

"Huh?! This… But how come? Hasn't the wall been occupied for almost 100 years!" Testros replied as his eyes shook a little

He was obviously confused since the Red Plains was an area beyond the wall, it was a place thoroughly destroyed and corrupted by the many wars ravaged it.

"Oho? Yes, it hasn't… Ah… I think I may have been a bit vague…" The old man said as he laughed drily

"My time atop the wall was long before its downfall."

""!""

The trio stood even more shocked, even Tina seemed somewhat in awe at this old man's statement.

And he had no use lying either.

If his words were true, then it would mean this Karkavan was at the very least 100 years old.

And albeit the metabolism of the Karkavan decreases as they grow older, this old warrior would still be about 230+ years in Human terms!

That was an extremely lengthy amount of time, no wonder he looked like a walking bag of bones!

"What a sight it was… That grand structure… Your kind has always impressed me, as despite your size, your dreams can reach higher than even the furthest cloud." He said with a wide smile as he looked at the ground

"Sigh… It's a shame…"

"..."

/Silence…/

"Either way… Would it be possible for us to continue with our conversation… Inside?" He asked as he covered his head with a cloak

"My Skin isn't the same as it once was... I can barely stand like this for long…" He said slowly as he supported his weight with his cane

Dale turned to the other two and they nodded without hesitation.

It didn't matter where they talked, but it was true all three of them would prefer to talk over some shade while sitting, their legs deserved some rest also.

"Then… Let me give my kin their goodbyes before we proceed."

"Your Kin?" Dale asked curiously

"Ahh… Your kind tends to… Differentiate between the multiple layers of one's heritage…"

"Well, in your own terms… Muddan would be my Great Grand… Child." He said as he stopped to cough lightly

"Unfortunately, his Parents and my closest direct Kin aren't in the Central Lands due to our conditions… I'll explain that as we move to the Great Abode." He said as he turned his back to them, tapping on Muddan's arm to gather his attention due to their height difference

And not long after, Muddan turned to look at them, hammering his chest as he helped his 'wife' back to their own abode.

He didn't turn back, not even once.

His task had been completed, as such, this was where their paths diverged…

For now.

Given everything they had witnessed so far, it was likely that they would meet once more.

Either in such a peaceful scene or on the battlefield.

The War had already started, the Karkavan were dying out there.

Right now, they were only preparing for their counter attack.

…

Without further ado, the trio started following the Elder Karkavan through the streets of the city.

"Hum… I think I forgot to introduce myself… I remember that to be quite the offense for your kind, and it's the same for us, as this is the first thing we tend to truly learn about each other."

"You have my sincere apologies." He said as he tapped his chest, even if very lightly

"No, elder, it's okay." Testros replied with some respect as he gave him a nod

"I don't mind it either, Dale?"

"Do you even need to ask?" He replied with a light smile

"... It's good to see that there are still good people within your kind… No offense..."

"These words are not mine but from an old… Old friend."

"He cursed his own Kind for the ploys and schemes they used against him and those around him, for their conflicting choices..."

"However, I always felt sorry for him to feel that way towards those he shares the same blood with."

"Although your kind prefers to look at their closest ideology first, we believe everyone is connected and should such care for each other, even if little…"

"But I know desiring idealism never led your kind anywhere that expecting such things is... Cough..."

"I'm just happy to see that his harsh words weren't correct."

"..."

Dale and the others had nothing to say, what could they even say in this situation?

That Humans were much worse than this Elder could imagine?

No, he likely knew, but was it right to destroy the mood by trying to be a smartass?

Some things were unneeded to be said as their meaning already lingered in the air…

"Going on… I go by the Prefix of Kud, and the Sufix of Xor for my long services as the First… And Last Elder of the Parlamerita Council."

"My name is Dan, Kuddan-Xor, and I extend my greetings in the name of all Karkavan." Kuddan said as he tapped his cane on the ground domineering

"!"

For a slight moment, Dale and the others felt a wave of energy wash over them, it was faint but strong…

But it lacked consistency, as if Dale had drunk thick honey, but a single droplet of it.

In a sense, Dale felt as if it was even strong than the Devil's Prime Force.

However, if the Devil's presence was like a cup, the old man was barely a droplet.

It was obvious that his inner fire was about to extinguish, they were witnessing his last steps.

It may not be now or the month after, but he wasn't going to last another 5 years…

Sometimes, Dale felt that this power was quite depressive, to be able to tell how much 'life' someone has inside them...

How can you hope when you can tell that the end is near?

"Now… Where to start… Perhaps with a simple briefing of our situation?" He asked as he looked at them

"..."

Tina and Dale were fine with whatever he said, but Testros' expression was heavy and distant.

"Hum... My friend, it seems you have questions hidden within your eyes, do not hold them, it is not healthy." Kuddan replied with a light laugh

"I... Sigh."

"I wanted to ask if... You... Your kind..."

"If we have ever met with survivors?" Kuddan asked as he interrupted Testros

".,.. Yes! But how...?"

"My friend, despite how young you look... There is no way I wouldn't be able to... Recognize the traces of the Corps."

"From the way you walk to the way your Aura feels, it's exactly the same as I remember."

But Kuddan's expression quickly soured.

"This won't exactly answer your doubts..."

"But I don't quite know what happened during those times... It was... Chaotic."

"It hadn't been long since I rose to my current position, and the members of the Council had yet to be chosen..."

"I remember sitting around in a chair reading an old poem before an scout came to me to warn me about a great Exodus, he wanted to know my decision regarding what to do next."

"Because of my confusion and lack of experience, I decided to seal off the Villages until we properly figured out what kind of crises was going on in there."

"I knew more then anyone that if something like that was happening, then the situation was dire."

"I... Turned a blind eye to them... Yet, despite how humiliating I may feel now, that was the correct choice."

"Exodus?"

"Yes... I heard this directly from some of the survivors after everything was... Over."

"But in anticipation of the attack that fell the Wall, many of its inhabitants... Ran away."

"I-Impossible! I don't remember such a thing ever happening!" Testros exclaimed loudly, only to realize how rude he was being

"I am not saying they deserted."

"?"

"The proper term would be... Gathering the remaining forces... Because..."

"The Southern Wall was turned into a trap."

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Notes

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