Overlord Rising - Chapter 33 Preparations And Pause

Led by Uriel and company, lizard folk of various clans left the shadows of the forest, and marched towards Nul Hunur, their supposed refuge. Anxiety filled the hearts of these lizards, as they marched into the open field. Apart from a few stories and vague tales, they knew little to nothing about this place. Would it truly be the best place to stay? Would they be safe there? None of them truly knew, but they had little choice on the matter.

Days passed. Although few, they felt absurdly long. Migrating with elders, younglings and eggs made the journey a little more rigorous. With exhausted bodies and sore soles, the lizard folk eventually reached the city.

At first, none of them quite knew what to make of it. They had seen places such as this, but never so much altogether. It reminded them of their village, but built by creatures with more gifted hands than they.

The Blood Crows, on the other hand, reacted differently. They looked around with wonder and comfort at the stone buildings and tall walls that surrounded the city. These elves showed more relief and satisfaction than those seeking sanctuary. This would be their new home.

“So this is where we shall defend ourselves,” Enoch, Ragosh’s father, remarked. The old chieftain glanced at the environment, as if he had been brought into an entirely new world. “It does appear much harder to attack than a village.”

“It could use a few tall trees, however,” Sonpra growled, heavily breathing through his nostrils. “Lady Overlord, what will we do next?”

“Next, we need to discuss how we are to defend ourselves against the Allosaur,” Uriel replied. “Stone walls are only as good as those protecting it. We have a lot of work to do. Have the clans settle where they wish. Afterwards gather representatives from each clan and have them meet us at the citadel, that large building at the top.”

“Yes, Lady Overlord, the two chieftains replied, then giving a nod. Before they could turn away, however, Uriel called Enoch back.

“Chieftain Enoch, have Ragosh escort you all into the citadel,” Uriel commanded. “We have rather daunting guardsmen, and I think it’d be best you be led by your son, who had already met with them.”

“I shall, Lady Overlord,” Enoch grunted, giving one final nod.

The two chieftains then turned to the large mass of lizard folk behind them, and began organizing. As for Uriel, she marched up to the citadel, accompanied with Mycelia and Jotun.

“We have a lot to prepare, my lady,” Jotun remarked, as he followed. “Defending a city will not be a simple task.”

“I know,” Uriel grunted softly. “I’ve lived through two sieges before. One going off quite smoothly, the other made a perfect nightmare.”

“Well, let’s make sure this one doesn’t become another nightmare,” Jotun gruffly remarked, shaking his head. “I didn’t bring my people all the way here, just to mark their tombstones.”

Up at the citadel, Uriel and her company arrived. There, they found the two metal golems still watching the gate. Dirt, blood and other elements of nature had stained their steel hides even further, yet they continued to stand strong and ready.

They walked through the hallways, passing the banners and debris. Soon, the trio came upon the citadel’s throne room. Upon arriving, it dawned on Uriel that she had not been in that one room for quite some time.

If anything, she had only sat on the throne during one occasion, when she had first arrived to the citadel, and addressed the Dark-Elf situation with Mycelia and Lysander. It may not have even been a year ago, yet it felt like such a time had already passed.

Uriel approached the throne and felt the skeletal dcor. She had only sat on it once, so she couldn’t quite say that she had grown accustomed to it.

With a soft sigh, she sat on the throne and fitted herself right on it. Not exactly the snuggest of seats, but it always did make her feel a little more important than she would have preferred.

“It’s been so long since I last found myself walking in any throne room,” Jotun sighed. He placed his hands on his hips and looked around the empty room, reminiscing a little. “Didn’t think I’d actually be wandering around one any time soon.”

“Sadly, this throne room is in rather a dilapidated state,” Uriel remarked. She wiped her finger on the armrest, collecting a bit of dust.

Jotun smirked. “I’d take this throne room over the last one I visited,” he grunted, wiping his nose. “Wasn’t a very pleasant experience?”

“Why is that?” Uriel asked.

“Because the last throne room I visited was the imperial throne room, where they announced my exile to Ebonus,” Jotun answered.

“I see,” Uriel muttered, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. “Well hopefully, you won’t give me any reason to exile you from this place.”

“I make no promises,” Jotun replied.

“Do you ever stop with your jests?” Mycelia sighed, rolling her eyes under her visor.

“You need to have a bit of humor, my Sightless Sister,” Jotun chuckled. “It may even add a few extra years to your lifespan.”

Before the conversation could continue, Ragosh arrived into the throne room. Enoch, Sonpra, Sidra and nine other lizard folks closely followed behind. They had scales of different shades, and features that helped differentiate them from one another. Despite this, none of them had any distinguishable features that made them truly stand out. They looked quite similar to one another.

They approached the throne, and then bowed respectfully. One by one, the nine other lizard folk began briefly introducing themselves, as well as the clans they represented.

“Greetings and welcome,” Uriel then declared, after the last of the nine introduced himself. “I am Overlord Uriel, Lady of the citadel Nul Hunur, new master of the Shunen Ground exiles, and current war master for the Ovoo.”

“We are honored for you to have us, Overlord,” the nine replied together.

“You are all here, because of the ensuing chaos that has consumed your land,” Uriel then announced. “You have nowhere to go, and very few places to run. We believe that the Allosaur Clan will soon attack us. From what we’ve heard, you will not be spared, even if you surrender to them. If you wish to survive and live to make it to the next day, you will all follow my commands. Do you understand?””

“Yes, Overlord,” the nine lizard folk answered simultaneously. Not a single shred of hesitation sounded in their voice. They knew their condition, and knew best not to behave too proudly.

“And what about you three?” Uriel asked, turning her attention to the three who had yet to respond.

“You have promised us victory over our enemies,” Enoch grunted, stomping his staff on the floor. “What you command, we will follow.”

“You have taken us in, when no one else would,” Sidra replied, kneeling down. “We exiles of the Shunen Ground shall lay our lives before you.”

Sonpra snorted. He hiss and shivered. “You have turned this entire land upside down,” he then answered. “What happens from here on, I do not know. However, I intend to find out where you will take it. The Chamael will listen.”

“Excellent,” Uriel smiled. She turned to her elves, and then to the lizard folk who stood before her. “Now listen closely, for we have much to do.”

Uriel and the company around her spoke for a length amount of time. They discussed of plans to protect the city, as well as emergency plans to escape, in case the battle led to dire results. They also conversed about organizing the various clans into proper groups, as well as readying necessary provisions. For the most part, the lizard folk neither argued nor questioned anything. They simply listened and agreed to whatever they had been told.

As soon as they had finished speaking, preparations began. For the next several days, the lizard folk travelled into the nearby forests for food and other resources. In addition, they also begun crafting additional weapons and defenses. Although they could not make anything of top quality, they built decent enough weapons and defenses to still cause damage.

While the reptilians did most of the heavy labor, the Blood Crows scoured the city and citadel, seeking for anything that could assist them. In addition, the Blood Crows also provided their reptilian companions with additional training, particularly in archery.

The lizard folk had no aptitude with the bow and arrow, but at the very least, they eventually learned how to send the arrow flying.

Time quickly passed by. Life slowly entered the city, as the clans and Blood Crows worked together and readied themselves for any conflict that may come their way. They did not know when the Allosaur would attack, but they had no intention of waiting idly by for their arrival.

One late evening, Uriel found herself strolling on the top of the city walls. A gentle breeze passed by, blowing against her hair. She took a deep breath, and then exhaled. Chills ran down her body, bringing a sense of calm to her chest. Turning around, Uriel gazed at the once abandoned city.

Traces of life had begun returning to the city. Torches lit several streets. A large number of lizard folk and elves occupied any building and space they could find. The city itself may not have been thriving with energy, but it felt better than total darkness and silence.

It felt a little strange to be in Nul Hunur, seeing all this. Uriel had heard many stories about it being a den of evil and villainy; how monsters and vile creatures haunted the streets, attacking any intruder that they laid eyes upon. Never before had she ever pictured it to be so peaceful and oddly serene.

As much as Uriel enjoyed living on the edge and the thrill of battle, she also enjoyed this simplistic and almost boring feeling of peace.

“Enjoying the view?” Jotun asked, approaching with a wineskin in hand.

“I am,” Uriel admitted, nodding. She continued casting her gaze at the city, allowing the cool wind to touch her. “Never thought I’d actually find places like this in Ebonus. I believed it would only get worse, if you went deeper in.”

“You can thank the sorceress for that,” Jotun replied, drinking a little. “Apparently, she and a company of soldiers had defeated the ghoulish creatures that roamed this city.”

“How do you know this?” Uriel asked, a little surprised. “Did Mycelia actually tell you?”

“She did, but we first discovered it ourselves,” Jotun answered, leaning on the other side of the wall. “While looking for useful items, we found traces of monsters and other fiends. Our sorceress had killed and collected their parts for her magic.”

“That’s quite an impressive feat,” Uriel praised quietly. “Mycelia has constantly proven herself to be a powerful sorceress.”

“She didn’t do it herself, however,” Jotun then stated, looking down. “Apparently, a number of soldiers had died in the battles as well. Mycelia had kept their helmets and honored them and their names.”

Uriel looked down, flicking a nearby pebble. “She’s been through a lot over the century,” she sighed. “And you as well. You and your Blood Crows have been surviving all these years. How do you do it?”

Jotun gulped down a large amount, before speaking. “A bit of luck, a lot of hard work, perseverance, and too much sacrifice,” he then replied. He pulled out a small book from his belongings and passed it to Uriel.

“What is this?” Uriel asked. She flipped through the pages and saw a number of names written down.

“Those are all the names of the Drow who died,” Jotun grumbled, shaking his drink. “There were some bodies or belongings we couldn’t retrieve. The most we could do, is at the very least remember their name.”

Uriel huffed, as she quickly flipped to the last page. “You’re an elf of great honor,” she complimented, passing the book back. “I cannot imagine the difficulty you and your brethren had to endure. A single week in the middle of Ebonus can cause much suffering, yet you all managed to stay sane here for over a century.”

“Company helps us from losing our minds,” Jotun softly chuckled. “It is easy to go insane, in the solitude and unknown. As you humans say, no man is an island.”

“Ah yes,” Uriel muttered. She had not heard that saying before. “Still, you and your Blood Crows have been quite committed. You even led these lizards to safety, when you could have just fled and left us.”

“When you’ve been here as long as I have, you learn just how important it is to have others watch your back,” Jotun grunted. “I don’t really know any of these lizards personally, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to abandon them to their fate. We’re all now a part of this.”

A warm smile appeared on Uriel’s face. “You remind me of an old flame of mine,” she chuckled. “He always had such a strong concern for others, even those he didn’t quite know. At a time, I thought him as a nave fool, who did it for appearances.”

“And what did you think of him afterwards?” Jotun asked.

“Probably one of the best and worst things of my life,” Uriel answered, trying her hardest to keep the smile.

“Best and worst?” Jotun repeated with confusion.

“I enjoyed every moment being with him,” Uriel explained. A small tear left her eye, as her clenched hands shook. “However, it hurt so much when I decided to end my relation with him. A part me wonders which was a bigger mistake; falling for him, or falling away from him?”

Jotun didn’t answer right away. Quietly, he rubbed her back to comfort her. “I can’t answer that,” Jotun replied. “However, you shouldn’t dwell on what’s happened. Instead, look forward and see what you can do.”

“I know,” Uriel muttered with a nod. Wiping the tear from her eye, she held on a strong face. “It is getting late. I believe it is time I retired.”

“Have a good night, my lady,” Jotun smiled, patting her shoulder.

“Same to you, Jotun,” Uriel replied.

She walked down the wall and began walking back to the citadel. Uriel passed a few lizard folk who took shelter in the buildings. They rested well, after a long day of labor. These lizards may had a rather primitive society, but their strength and vitality allowed them to work longer and with less trouble. They easily made more progress than humans.

In addition, Uriel noticed a few other buildings used as storage houses, keeping a large supply of food, herbs, timber and other resources collected from the nearby forest.

As she continued down, Uriel heard a number of grunting and swishing noises. At one street, she noticed two lizard folk engaged in some sort of duel. Uriel recognized both participants: Ragosh and Sidra.

Ragosh moved left and right, trying his hardest to land a strike against his opponent. The young Ovoo dashed around, showing his zest and agility. He had skill. He always had. However, this duel seemed a little different.

Rather than just relying on raw instinct, Ragosh kept a close eye on Sidra’s arms, legs, and tail. He did not simply charge in, prepared to receive injuries. Ragosh paid attention to both his surroundings, and his opponent’s movements. The young warrior had improved.

Despite his improvements, Sidra still proved fought with the skills that displayed experience and acute senses. After defending himself against a few more strikes, Sidra swung his broad tail and sent Ragosh tumbling a few steps back.

Ragosh rubbed the side of his face, and then returned to his feet. “Another one,” he growled. He whacked his tail, hungry to fight a little more.

“I think you’ve had enough for today,” Sidra responded, crossing his arms. “Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Overlord?”

“What?” Ragosh turned around, and spotted Uriel watching them. “Lady Overlord!”

“There’s no need to be surprised,” Uriel chuckled, as she approached them both. “You’ve gotten better, whelp.”

“Better, but not enough,” Ragosh snorted. “I need to grow stronger, if I wish to survive whatever those Allosaur throw at us.”

Uriel smiled, and shook her head. “I admire your humility, but learn to also accept compliments, my friend,” she sighed. “Regardless, Sidra is right. You look exhausted.”

Uriel looked at Ragosh, who had a few bruises from head to tail. In addition, she also noticed that his hands seemed to be a little swollen.

“You’ve also been working hard in the fields, I see,” Uriel remarked.

“We need to do all we can for when the Allosaur may attack,” Ragosh replied, flickering his tongue. “I want to be in top shape when they do.”

“If you want to be in top shape, then I’d suggest you rest, like Sidra suggested,” Uriel grumbled. “If they attacked right now, you would have been exhausted from this duel. You wouldn’t be at your best.”

“Wise words, Lady Overlord,” Sidra grunted, nodding. “It pleases me to know that my chieftain is not a bullish brute, who relies only on force.”

“I try my best,” Uriel stated with some humor and a shrug.

Both Sidra and Ragosh let out a small laugh. “If I may be honest, Lady Overlord,” Sidra said. “You’re not exactly what I expected you to be.”

“Indeed,” Ragosh agreed with a grunt. “When you suggested us to fight against the Allosaur, I presumed you to be a bloodthirsty demon, who simply wished to spread conflict and malice. However, you proved to be not at all different from us lizard folk.”

“You’ve actually shown some concern for our wellbeing,” Sidra added. “You honored us with your honesty, and even shown you have some humor in your bones.”

“I may have seen a number of atrocious things in my life,” Uriel remarked. “However, that does not mean I ought to focus on said atrocities. There are many other things in this life to look fondly back on, and hope for.”

“We hope to be freed from the Allosaur’s wrath,” Ragosh confessed. “We’ve never had any actual problems with them in the past, but they’re ruthlessness has forced us into a corner.”

“The exiles and I look forward to our new lives,” Sidra grunted, his tongue flickering from his mouth. “We’ve been removed from our own clans for so long that we practically gave up. You’ve given us something to fight for.”

“Keep those thoughts close to mind, my friends,” Uriel hummed. “For they may ignite your will to survive, when all seems lost.”

Ragosh and Sidra nodded.

“For now, follow Sidra’s advice,” Uriel told Ragosh, patting his shoulder. “Get some rest and replenish your strength. The same goes for you, Sidra.”

“Very well,” Sidra replied, followed by a yawn. “Until the next day, Lady Overlord.”

“Rest well, Lady Overlord,” Ragosh also said, then leaving to where the other Ovoo settled themselves.

Walking up the streets further, Uriel soon arrived at the citadel. Torches also lit through the keep. Several Drow passed around, still inspecting the building for anything that could be of use. Even a simple hammer and a handful of nails seemed valuable.

Crossing through the hallways, Uriel almost reached her room. As she walked, she noticed light warmly flicker from Mycelia’s room. Uriel knew the sorceress to be often be busy with spells, potions and the tome they had acquired. Despite this, Uriel still found herself drawn to the room and inspect Mycelia’s activities.

Peaking inside, Uriel found Mycelia sitting close to the fireplace. Surprisingly, Mycelia did not work on her usual magic or potions. Instead, she worked on a long tree branch. With a small pocket knife, Mycelia chipped away on the wood, carving it into something. Mycelia looked quite focused on her work, but this didn’t stop Uriel from announcing her presence.

Uriel lightly knocked on the door. “May I come in?” she then asked.

Mycelia’s ears twitched, when she heard the knock and words. She stopped carving and looked up. “My lady, please do so,” the elf responded, getting to her feet.

Uriel stepped inside and looked around. The room still looked a mess. It had become something Uriel had come to expect. Lots of papers and materials scattered about, as if the room had just been robbed.

“I was passing by and noticed your room still lit,” Uriel remarked. She approached Mycelia and gazed at the branch. “What’re you making yourself?”

“A staff,” Mycelia answered, holding out the branch. “I’m hoping to craft a staff for my magic.”

This surprised Uriel a little. “You need one?” she then asked, noting the branch’s shape. “I assumed you just waved your hands and cast the spell.”

“Well, I can,” Mycelia muttered. “But it is much easier to cast magic with either a wand or staff. Considering recent events, I presumed it was time I started carrying one again.”

“Again?” Uriel repeated with curiosity. “You had a staff before?”

“Of course I did,” Mycelia replied, hopping on the spot. “I’ve had one since I was still an apprentice.”

“What happened to it?” Uriel then asked.

Mycelia let out a quiet and morbid sigh. “It was lost almost a century ago,” she explained. “A powerful fiend attacked the citadel. I defeated it, but with the cost of my staff, and a few good soldiers who had volunteered to stay with me.”

Uriel muttered. “My condolences,” she replied in a low voice. “Were you close with those soldiers?”

“They were not childhood friends, if that’s what you are wondering,” Mycelia replied. “However, long travels tend to tighten bonds with companions. We may not have been the closest of companions, but I do morn their deaths.”

“You’re a strong woman, Mycelia,” Uriel remarked. “Even stronger than me, I believe.”

“That’s nonsense, my lady,” Mycelia chuckled. “I’m a Sightless Sister, you’re the Overlord, a figure of great and untapped power.”

“Strength isn’t defined by power, but by one’s heart,” Uriel replied, pressing her finger on Mycelia’s forehead. “You’ve been defending this place for a century, by yourself, while also keeping hold of your faith as a Sightless Sister. Whilst I may not agree with simply following a vague vision, I do admire your resolve. It can be very difficult for a person to do so by themselves.”

Blushing, Mycelia looked away. “You’re too kind, my lady,” she quietly noted. “If there’s anything you need of me, please ask.”

“You’ve already done much,” Uriel smiled, gently placing her hand on Mycelia’s head. “All I ask is for your continued support.”

“Of course, my lady,” Mycelia replied, bowing. “Thank you.”

Uriel nodded. “I should be on my way,” she then said. “Good night, Mycelia.”

“Good night, my lady,” Mycelia replied.

Uriel soon retreated back to her chamber. She didn’t jump straight to bed, however. Uriel looked out at the balcony and gazed once more at the night sky of stars, and the now occupied city. It felt so calm and peaceful, a feeling that she had never thought to experience in Ebonus.