Taking an extra second, Guard Captain Tak regulated his breathing, to gather his thoughts. A couple of seconds of tense silence later, he cast away the last lingering doubt from his heart and fixed his disposition.
As determination gradually settled across his face, his whole body posture seemed to also relax, and slowly ease into the situation.
With his fists clenched, his determination was already quite a surprise and an unexpected sudden change for the people around the tables.
Yet, his next words were what caught everyone off guard and earned quite a few shocks, gasps, and even yelps.
"[Reptilian] I... I would like to join him! I wish to be under his service!" He exclaimed, gaining more and more confidence in his own words the more he heard it himself. "If he desires it so, I could act as his spy even! Anything… as long as…"
"[Reptilian] As long as… what exactly? What is the 'price' for your services, if I may be as bold as to ask?" Pyre inquired further, pushing on the matter with the same inquisitive tone as before. She leaned over the table, allowing his glimmering yellowish eyes to shine through the shadows of her hood.
Aiden kept a neutral, almost insipid look and stance, refusing to comment on the Guard Captain's words for the time being. He was keenly listening, whilst paying rapt attention to his marker on the System's Map.
Enya, the System's Guide was also focusing, utilizing all of the system's resources at her disposal to analyze the behavior of the Guard Captain. Even then, no matter how both of them looked and scrutinized this figure, neither of his words was dishonest. Everything he said seemed and felt to be coming from the bottom of his heart.
He truly wished to switch sides and assist the ex-archbishop in his cause. Question was, why? What made him do a 180-flip and stand with the enemy he should be despised so much?
Feeling all the tense gazes were like as if he was standing accused on a trial in front of the holy church. He felt the dozens of gazes like hot rays piercing through his scales and searing their markers deep into his flesh. Tak, the Guard Captain, felt as if he was standing as the accused, trying to appease the jury.
Still, he would not falter and not step down from his stance any longer. Though he couldn't be sure, he felt that these people had more than what they revealed. Their mysterious leader couldn't be just a simple refugee merchant. Not with that uncanny agility and nimble dexterousness.
Also, no matter how much he tried before, how much he pushed and how much force he exerted, this robed man never showed any fear, he was calm. Humble all the way, but calm nonetheless.
"[Reptilian] … *Sigh*… I would like to ask for his help…" He sighed for a momentary pause, before continuing. "I want to ask him, to help me find a pair of skinks…. A woman… and her child."
"[Reptilian] What?! Who do you thi-"
Madam Dara stood up in anger, listening to the presumptuous request, but before she could even finish her yell, she was hushed to silence with a wave of a hand from Aiden.
Aiden looked at the Guard Captain for a few seconds, before asking in a strange, chillier tone. Though he didn't raise his voice and was still calm, there was a hidden power lying underneath each word he said. A sort of ancient presence, that whilst non could consciously presume, they could still feel its threat. Making everyone sit up in attention and look weary, even though the words were not aimed at them.
"[Reptilian] Tell me, Tak, Guard Captain of the Temple Guards. Why would you think, this 'archbishop' you are searching for could help you in your search? Why don't you ask your superiors? Shouldn't they have access to resources that a group of rowdy rebels has not? Who are these two to you?" Aiden fired several questions one after another. Each with the same unnatural strange tone of voice, making Tak subconsciously began to shiver in fright; their kind instinctual response when faced with a predator, a superior existence.
Tak gulped loudly several times, trying to quell the rising storm in his heart before he was actually able to blurt out the words they were waiting for.
"[Reptilian] I c-can not ask them! T-they are the reason those two are in such a s-situation!" Clenching his fists ever-so tightly that droplets of blood started to pour on the wooden floor.
"[Reptilian] I-I need to find them… I want to be reunited with them… I can't stand it any more! Y-you have to understand…" Opening his eyes he looked miserable as he continued to plead. "…They… They are my family! My w-wife… and my dear… beloved daughter…"
Finally letting out all that he had kept hidden in the deepest depth of his heart, he slumped back on his chair, as if he let go of a large burden.
"[Reptilian] I miss them… so much… it hurts!" He muttered, though mostly to himself, but it did not escape Aiden's heightened senses.
Listening to him, nobody spoke a word but turned to look at their leader for his judgment on the matter.
Even the two mature zealous guardians, the two ladies of Madam Dara and Pyre kept silent and cast their curious gazes on the deep hood of their leader and the silent little girl sitting in his lap.
Listening to the man, Tolliah was the first to react. She didn't speak either, but from the light squirming and fidgeting, Aiden was aware of what she wanted to convey to him, making him flash a smile, albeit only inwardly.
Aiden, who seemed unresponsive to all these heartfelt confessions, was actually in a deep conversation with his system's guide. As for why was he troubled, was actually related to the sudden notification he had received in the midst of Tak's speech.
The system seemed to have finally cast its godly judgment on the matter, or perhaps it had some sort of insight into how the threads of fate entangled for each person, and have probably seen something that forced him to formulate a new Main Quest.
Probably the first official, unavoidable forced one for quite some time, instantly making Aiden feel troubled and barely able to hide his displeasure and frown.
For more than anything, being forced into such a situation was what he hated the most. Being forced to tackle the threat of the horde of orcs made him encounter the first existence that felt vastly superior to him. To taste his first defeat.
To feel that how utterly helpless he was in the grand scheme of things, nothing more than a slightly more colorful pawn on this giant chessboard controlled by fate and destiny.
With a frown, he turned to look at the flashing message in front of him.
[New Main Quest Received! - Save all the Maidens!]
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