The Last Primal

Chapter 629 - 629 - Reaching The City

"[Reptilian] We will, honey… we will. I promise you that."  Said Aiden, gently caressing, patting the top of the little one, Tolliah's head. She, enjoying her papa's love and care closed her eyes and hummed with delight, turning calm and consequently silent for the rest of the journey.

Madam Dara did not say a word more, she merely silently watched the sight, feeling the conflicting emotions, feelings clashing inside her. For one, she wanted the two to be happy, to be reunited with their missing family member, their wife, and mother. To see your loved ones happy and not wreaked in constant pain is everyone's utmost desire after all.

Yet at the same time, she felt guilty for also wishing that the Lord's wife, Daliah would no longer be alive. She felt horrible, yet at the same time, she couldn't quell this sinful thought, this deeply rooted desire of hers. 

'[Reptilian] Maybe… just maybe… if that would be the case… I could finally be with him…' She muttered inwardly, only realizing the gravity of her thoughts after they have been formed and mentally spoken.

'[Reptilian] What am I thinking?! Why would I… No, HOW could I wish for something so vile, so evil?! What is wrong with me?!' She was beyond shocked at herself On the outside, only the spasms of her lips, the gentle twitches could be observed, the more descriptive emotions were thankfully kept under close wraps.

Eventually, Madam Dara managed to calm herself down enough to focus her attention on their surroundings. Just in time as well, since the first, few dilapidated, worn-down buildings were of but a few hundred steps away from them. 

Raising his right arm in the air, Aiden ordered their convoy to take a halt. Following his silent orders, the caravan immediately came to a sudden stop, taking a pause on the dusty path just before crossing into Ugburg, the Ancient Underground City. 

As his 6 captains all slowly took themselves and approached the front, where the trio of Madam Dara, the little princess, Tolliah, and their lord, Aiden was waiting, Aiden silently gazed at the sight of archaic-looking streets and structures ahead of them.

Ugburg, whilst now being lived and used by this special breed of Draconic Skinks, was clearly not of reptilian origins. Though Aiden still couldn't say he had an overwhelming amount of knowledge piled up inside his mind, he did manage to gather some meager understanding through his several absorptions of the past.

Though Zokor was the only true reptilian figure he had added to his collection, the couple dozen humans he had taken into the 'Collection', have added up. Together with the explanations, he got from Thuk whenever he conversed with the eager little lizard, he at least understood their design philosophy and their belief-driven approach to their living accommodations.

Skinks, Sauruses, and every other type of Lizardmen were effectively one big community. They preferred to create and live in these so-called temple cities. Vast settlements, monumental metropolises of pyramids, ziggurats, and temples, that dot the lush jungle landscapes of Eora. 

These cities are not just unique because they are inhabited by the cold-blooded Lizardmen, but that they also function as nexus points for the so-called natural earth energies, the so-called 'Geo Lines'. These were, for the lack of a better term, effectively ley lines, the literal pulses, veins of Mother Nature itself, carrying the vital blood of the realm itself in them. They encompassed not just their continent, but the entire world.

He did not know the true reason for the lizardmen's obsession with focusing on these natural focal points, but he knew from Thuk's stories that they had a real purpose beyond just simple religious beliefs. Their main, central temples were constructed at the very center of these geographical points, drawing its energy continuously. 

In any way, each of the temple-cities was constructed to be different in its own way, although all have been carefully positioned to relate to a specific celestial body or astral phenomena.

In this manner, the structures sit atop and serve as pivotal nexus points in the Geo Lines, the source of much of the world's power and of energy vital to the maintenance of a great ancient spell, a large magical shield that once guarded the realm of Eora from threats of the outside.

Sadly, the majority of these once-great pillars, these wonders of Eora are now laid in ruins, devasted and choked, overgrown by the jungle they once lorded over… although, from the myths and legends, they may not be utterly deserted…

Obviously, there are many different reasons why they were reduced to such decrepit states. Some were ravaged through constant struggles, strifes between the differences of the races shunned and exploited through their social hierarchy. Some were gradually worn down or destroyed by the many monsters of the world.

Over the ages, other Lizardmen cities of Eora have fallen to disasters, plagues, the invasions of warmbloods, shifting tectonics, and other reasons that were unknown to even Thuk. Those that remain are some of the greatest within Eora, and those that defend it will willingly die by the thousands to ensure its continued survival…

The fact of this all is, that temple cities were vastly different, not just in style but by design as well. Everything was meticulously planned out and crafted, such a section like this 'slums' would have no place in a true Temple-City.

No, Ugburg even to the untrained eye looked strange, different from what you would expect. Though lived by thousands upon thousands of Skinks, it wasn't there originally.

'Dwarves? Or was it a human city at some point? But if so, why did they build it below the ground? They wouldn't normally do something like that…' Pondering about it for a moment, he recalled the underground structures and tunnels that were carved below Higrove as well. 

Immediately, a frown spread across his visage.

'…still a full city for the criminal underworld?! Hmmm…' He pondered, oblivious to the fact that his captains were already gathered around him, waiting for their leader silently to come out of his reverie and address them.

—

Somewhere in the deepest, most guarded sections of Ugburg, at only a building that was clearly not created by the original inhabitants of the Ancient City. A large ziggurat stood proudly, reaching all the way to the ceiling of the humungous underground hall.

Just below its peak where only an altar resided, made for the glory of the Ancient One, was the High Priest's living abode. Guarded by the most elite of the elite in the Temple Guards, a large crimson double door barred entry to anyone but one wrinkled, robed old Skink only.

Standing in front of it, the High Priest had a sinister smile curving the creases of his face. He donned a vile, extremely vicious, monstrous grin as he leered at the closed, and guarded door. 

Licking his lips as if he was about to welcome the most lustrous of meals… or perhaps something else… he smirked to himself as he dominantly studded forward. 

Only a single thought, a deeply perverted one filled his mind.

'Let's see to it if all that beating and torture have finally borne fruit and you will finally accept your new Master… b*tch! You will willingly give me an heir… our blood combined is the key to our freedom! I know it!'

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