Azimuth: The Elden Throne

The chapter's re-editing is in progress.

For some reason, Wwebnovel was bugged, and it was duplicating paragraphs left and right; because of this, I lost my win-win month... AGAIN!

My problem is for the most part. Anyhow, give me some time to fix this mess... From the beggining.

Thanks!

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The towering structure, one of the talest they've seen so far stood before them.

Like many would've expected to see, the Grand Elder's Manor wasn't a leather Hut made from the skin and bones of beasts...

It was a towering stone house shaped like multiple cylinders stacked atop each other, each signifying a floor, with four total.

Dale gave Hina a small explanation of the area, saying that they were currently within Council Road, with the other houses left and right of the street belonging to the other Elders, each built entirely out of stone.

The Karkavan usually left each other to their own devices, but when they had to make community things intended to last, they would bend together to build something meaningful; it was why all roads were made from pure, polished stone.

"..."

From the Murals, to the paintings, carvings, and those strange crystals hanging loose all around, the level of technology employed in its construction and decoration baffled her as she did not expect such development from what she saw as barbaric giants.

She now understood why Dale called this place a Manor, it was, for the lack of it, a castle.

But for these giants, it was likely just a bigger house...

The difference in size and quality between the houses displayed the authority of the one who lived at the center.

/Step.../

00:08

"!"

She felt as if she was exploring a long-lost civilization... But they were alive, right before her.

/Step.../

"!"

The guards left the due before the large structure, and while Hina wondered what to do, Dale moved forth, entering the Manor and leaving her behind.

"Wait for me!"

She exclaimed as she ran after him, closing the door behind her with difficulty as the door was several times her height.

It would be more proper to call it a gate instead...

...

/Inside the Manor.../

While Dale ignored the first floor completely, Hina stood behind as she read the description of the items around her, gasping not only at their rudimentary beauty but also their rarities and qualities.

Seeing how similar she was to the previous him, Dale opened his mouth to say:

"This is what the Karkavan call, the Remembrance Hall. A place where they gather and store the Relics of their past Great Warriors and Heroes so the generations afterward may remember their tales."

"... This place feels like my great-grandmother's house..." She replied as she reached her hand to touch an item

/Grab!/

Dale grabbed her hand, shaking his head.

"Although I do agree it feels like a grandma's house, this place is by far safe; these items aren't safe for touch, be careful."

"Not safe?... What do you mean?"

"Hm... It's better if we leave that for another time... We shouldn't make him wait."

This time, Dale did not stop, leaving her behind as he climbed the stairs to the second floor.

"..."

'Strange... I feel... Watched?'

As she stood alone in that great hall full of ancient items, bones, tapestries, and more, Hina felt an overwhelming sense of dread and fear.

Something began to weigh in her heart and compress her mind, like the primal fear one may feel at midnight as they have to turn off the lights in the kitchen...

/Creak.../

She took a step forward... Then another... And another...

Before she even knew it; she was running up upstairs where Dale was weighed, his arms crossed.

"Greta, you're here. For a moment, I thought I would need to rescue you."

"Re... Haa... R-Rescue me?" Hina asked amidst gasps, unbeknownst to her, she was trembling

"Yeah, that's what usually happens when you stay behind with those artifacts, I told you they were dangerous."

As he said that, he shook his head, giving her some water to help her calm down.

"I... Couldn't you have warned me?" She asked with a pouty face as she took the water

"I could, but this is a better lesson."

"You..."

But before she could complain, Dale patted her head, making her even angrier.

"We can check the rest later, this place is private property, remember? So let's not be rude and talk with the owner first."

"... You're lucky." She replied as she pushed his hand away, trying to act tough as she exhaled

"..."

As he watched her walk onto a dead end, Dale turned his face to the floor below.

He could feel and see it; weak wisps of red energy twist and converge in the air. Prime Force, the Vitality of a thousand legendary Karkavan converged in one place.

'It was overwhelming before, no... I barely even felt it. Only when I stood behind and... That happened did I feel anything.'

'Now, it feels profound and magnificent.'

'It's incredible... But what matters here is my progress.'

'Not that being able to feel this long-dead Vitality is any impressive...'

Dale remained in place, waiting for Kuddan to arrive.

Meanwhile, Hina kept poking and snooping around, being as rude as she could be, invading the privacy of another as if this was an ordinary RPG.

/Creak.../

"..."

"... Greetings."

That was until she stood face to face with Kundan as she opened a door, who still towered over her despite his old appearance.

"H-Hi..."

"..."

'What an awkward meeting...'

Caught in the act, Hina looked like a little kitten that had misbehaved, so much so she froze in place.

After helping her overcome her shock, Kuddan led them to a table where they all sat together, resting a little before beginning their conversation:

...

"We meet again, young warrior. This time, you're in the company of someone your age. A rather curious female."

"I... I umn..."

"Sorry for coming so suddenly, there were many things I wanted to discuss with you... I felt we parted ways too abruptly."

"I was busy in the last few days, so I couldn't make the time to visit..."

"No no... You shouldn't. You helped us greatly, and you were injured; rest is but a course you needed to follow."

"Besides, we were equally as busy. With the restoration of the balance of the woods, all manners of beasts slowly return to their usual patterns and habitats."

"Moving around has become easier and scavenging for food now proves effective. We can now begin planning to retake the other cities and return to our previous lifestyles we lost with the arrival of the Devil."

"Even if you were to return, there would've been little to do as you were occupied planning for the future. We still are, but things are already on course; there's little need for me to intervene in them any further."

"I'm just an old brute. It's been too long, and I'm disconnected from the people; this job is better left for my Kin... And from it, he'll learn what it means to lead and garder their respect. Or so I hope."

"It'll take many years for the forest to restore to its previous state fully, but until then, we'll focus on restoring our balance."

"I already heard the news that the creatures occupying the Northern City left out of their own devices. We can return to it at any moment now." He said with a chuckle and a relieved sigh as he thought about it

"We have everything and more to thank you for. Not only you but everyone that participated in this expedition, be they present or not."

"You have my thanks, young warrior; you prevented me from seeing a sight most deplorable. The fall of my people."

Kuddan gave them a bow, his back creaked as he moved, causing Dale to speak in a hurry:

"Elder, please. We don't need such deep thanks; we did it for our sake, too, and everyone helped."

"Right." Kuddan replied with a chuckle before coughing on the side

"Ahem... I'm sure we could go on and on about this subject, but I'm afraid you don't have such time."

"Tell me your reason for coming, I heard from your message that you had something of great importance to discuss with me. I'm all ears."

"..."

Dale became severe, he thought about his words before saying:

"I do have many things to ask... But I'll tell you my goals first."

"I'll be crossing the Sinking Archipelago. I aim to reach Zenith and seek out the truth about these Devils and their invasions."

"In the meantime, I wish to track down the lost Navy of the Southern Corps and the Karkavan Heroes that were lost in the past."

"I'm not asking for help... I'm just stating what I plan to do."

"... Hm... Those are some heavy burdens you wish to carry, young man."

"Such burdens... Shouldn't be carried alone."

"I cannot speak for others, but I can say for myself. I'll assist you to the most of my ability so you may be as prepared as possible for the dangers beyond."

"Too many vanished amidst the waves beyond the shores, it's not a place any should thread."

"If I were younger, I would've followed you, but my back prevents me from walking too far from this table." He said with a chuckle as he looked through a window

"That's enough Elder... Then, should we start?"

"After I went unconscious, I met with a strange being..."

"What can you tell me about Spirits?"

...

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Notes