Chapter 86 12. Hesiota Travel Notes
Genevieve rode on the back of the cold lizard, looking at the slouching Daquus in front of her. She had traveled a lot, but she still couldn't believe that these elves with big steel chains around their necks were actually nobles. She had been in contact with these elven nobles for a few days, but she had never seen them perform elegant etiquette. In her eyes, these elven nobles were more like a group of ruffians.
Over a century has passed, and nothing has changed. Empires, dynasties, wars, alliances, cities, great men, common people, monsters, art and science, everything has come and gone, like the changing of seasons.
Her long life brought endless boredom. Ever since she received the Embrace, she had been perpetually on the brink of life and death, willing to do almost anything to alleviate her boredom. Sometimes she would recall the faces of her parents, sisters, or friends in the court, but more often, those memories seemed more like other people's lives.
She'd been to Indy before, where there were jungles too. She'd even seen tiger-men, with their monstrous heads and tails, but the jungle there wasn't nearly as dangerous as this one. She looked at the hordes of lizardmen and behemoths around her and wondered if she should find a way out. This might be her last chance, but what if she ran? She couldn't even tell her way in the rainforest, and the port had been destroyed.
She also had a feeling that this would be a fantastic adventure, just like the stories in epic poems, bestsellers, legends and tavern rumors!
After four days of marching, when they were camping at night, Chupakoko told Daxus that they would arrive at Hesiota the next afternoon. Daxus handed the "Adventure Record of Belsarius" to Ryan and asked Ryan to read the key pages to the group of Duruchi and tell them what to pay attention to after entering the city. This meeting might be a one-time deal, and if it went wrong, there would be no next time.
After much hardship, Dacus's team finally walked out of the jungle and arrived at the outskirts of Hesiota.
The "City of the Sun" Hesiota is the most dazzling and radiant of all the temple cities. The city is surrounded by tall walls relying on the mountains. The Southern Star Pyramid in the center of the city is so huge that a smaller diamond-shaped pyramid hangs in the air on its top. This diamond-shaped pyramid is the focus of the magic power of the entire city. The spiritual vein nodes emit blue light that soars into the sky and breaks through the clouds. From time to time, a few pterosaurs fly through the sky.
Ryan rode on the Cold Lizard's back, opened a leather notebook, and quickly sketched the outlines of Hesio TC City. In his eyes, the city seemed vast, eternal, and indestructible. Walter, lying on the wooden plank, had regained consciousness yesterday. He now raised his upper body and stared at Hesiota in amazement. The other Duruchi were equally astonished at this massive city hidden in the jungle.
Dacus looked at the magnificent and amazing city, and what he wanted most now was a camera.
The bronze gate of Hesiota slowly opened, and the Duruchi began to get nervous, their eyes all falling on Daquus, waiting for his orders.
"Don't worry, relax, I'm here." Dacuus snapped his fingers and walked in. Caerleon and Flanneth followed behind him, carrying the flags of the legion and the city.
Mazdamundi awoke and went to the Scrying Pool. He gazed into the blessed waters, wondering what the omen meant. The Skink Priest informed him of the situation outside. Pichipochi returned with Chupakoko, some Warmbloods, and the Slate.
Mazdamundi sensed the omen approaching, and he returned to the observatory of the Southern Star Pyramid on his carriage. He ordered that the warm-blooded creatures be brought before him so he could examine the omen and determine their place in the grand plan.
Hesiota had always been in its prime. The city lacked ruins, and was remarkably clean. As Dacius's group marched along the city's central processional avenue and passed through an archway, the Skinks, who worked and lived in the surrounding small pyramids and stone houses, emerged from the roadside to watch the warm-blooded procession. The slowest to arrive climbed atop the statues.
Daxus rode on the big guy and waved to the group of skinks in a friendly manner. The skinks tilted their heads and looked at him stupidly. As he waved, he started to laugh. As long as he was not embarrassed, the skinks would be embarrassed. He thought of the Roman triumphal procession again.
Strangely enough, he felt better in Hesiota than he had in Clar Kalond.
A commotion ensued. An Ankylosaur dragging a large stone on the avenue stopped upon seeing Dacus, its eyes curious. Seeing Dacus waving, it naively assumed he was waving at it, calling it over. Ignoring the Skink on its back, it sprinted towards Dacus, dragging the stone. Fortunately, Dacus stopped it in time, preventing further commotion. The Ankylosaur resumed dragging the stone and followed Dacus's group.
The pterosaurs in the sky also began to hover above Dacus's team, swooping down from time to time, as if greeting him.
Dacus's team reached the end of the city's central parade avenue and entered an open square. Here they would hike to the Southern Star Pyramid. Several animal trainers stayed here to care for the wounded and the wild beasts.
Walter struggled to get up and said he wanted to go up too. He didn't want to miss this historic moment.
After tidying up his appearance and clothing, Druchmen began to follow Darkus to climb the pyramid. Two Black Ark pirates supported Watt, who was leaning on a cane and sword.
The main structure of the Southern Star Pyramid is intact, built entirely of stone, each stone estimated to weigh several tons. Temple guards stood in silent vigil on either side of the pyramid's steps, silent and unmoved, not even blinking, some so frightened that their figures were practically obscured by dust.
The Drukis looked at the statues on both sides curiously.
"Just take a look. The lizardmen on both sides of the stairs have probably been standing there for hundreds of years, and they are all alive."
As soon as Dacus finished speaking, both sides reacted. It was better to sacrifice Druch to Cain than to let him stand in one place for hundreds of years. The temple guards on the other side understood what Dacus said. They remained motionless, but their eyes began to look at Dacus.
The Duruchis' skin began to tingle, and the magical wind energy gathered by the spiritual veins washed over their bodies. Daquus turned around and looked at Alyssa and asked, "How do you feel?"
Alyssa leaned her golden snake staff on the steps and looked at Darkus excitedly, saying, "I'm fine. Hecate is above us. The wind of Gur is abundant here, even more abundant than in the jungle. Casting spells and practicing guidance here will definitely be twice as effective with half the effort."
"That's good."