The Guardian gods-Chapter 204

Erik’s council member and his son each went on their way to complete the mission given to them by their king.

John, who was assigned to meet and negotiate with the harpies at the moment, is feeling very ecstatic, Among the council members he can be said to be the most religious.

His god for worship is Crepuscular so John has always had a fascination for a race who came directly for the god he worships. He couldn’t wait to share tales of his faith with the harpies as felt that he would be understood better there.

As a Lord under Erik, John had his own envoy accompanying him on his route to the harpie kingdom, Right now there were on the horse but soon the rest of the Journey will be on the foot as Harpies don’t make their home on the ground, Instead they do so at the highest place they could.

As John and his men made their way through the dense forest, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and unease. The path they rode on was narrow, flanked by tall, ancient trees. The sun was setting, casting long shadows that danced around them. John, riding at the front, glanced back at his men. They were loyal and capable, but he could sense the uncertainty of their mission weighed heavily on them all.

The group finally reached a clearing where they could dismount and begin the arduous climb to the harpies’ domain. John gathered his men around a small fire they had built to ward off the evening chill.

"Before we proceed, we need to discuss our approach with the harpies," John said, his voice steady but firm. "Negotiating with them will not be easy, and we must be prepared for every possibility."

One of his senior officers, a burly man named Marcus, spoke up. "My lord, what are the chances they will even listen to us? Little is known about the Harpies for us to draw a picture on how it could possibly go."

John nodded thoughtfully. "It’s true, Marcus. One thing we do know for sure about the Harpies is will they keep to themselves, they haven’t shown any form of aggression to us or any human in particular"

Another soldier, a younger man named Elias, voiced his concerns. "And what if they see us as a threat? Us approaching them can be seen as threat and giving them reason to turn their aggression to us"

John met Elias’s gaze, his eyes reflecting the firelight. "That is a chance we have to take for the sake of our kingdom and the upcoming war. So we must tread carefully. Our success hinges on showing them respect and understanding. We cannot afford to make any missteps."

A third voice chimed in, belonging to an older, more seasoned warrior named Roderick. "Do you really believe they will ally with us? What do we have to offer that they can’t get on their own?"

John took a deep breath, considering his response. "I have no answer to that as they are for sure capable of getting whatever it is they need on their own, all we can do now is speculate and hope that we have something that can be of Value to them"

Marcus, still skeptical, asked, "And if the negotiations fail, my lord? What then?"

John’s expression hardened. "If the negotiations fail, we must be ready to retreat swiftly. Engaging them in battle would be a last resort, and one I hope we can avoid. But make no mistake, we will defend ourselves if necessary."

The men nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and apprehension. John could see the weight of the task ahead in their eyes. He knew that their chances of success were slim, but he also believed in the strength of their faith and the righteousness of their cause.

As they prepared to continue their journey on foot, John offered a silent prayer to Crepuscular, seeking guidance and protection. He looked up at the towering peaks where the harpies made their home, steeling himself for the challenges that lay ahead. They made a small quick camp where everyone fell asleep.

"Let’s move out," John ordered after the morning sun came up and everyone was ready to go, leading his men into the mountain, their steps heavy with duty, hope and trepidation.

As they climbed the mountain, John noticed the higher they got the more it became harder to breath. This led to them having to enable their Knightley breathing technique which caused John and his envoy to be covered in light of different colors depending on the attribute of the technique.

Up above the sky, A harpy surrounded by the cloud can be seen Keeping a close look at John and his party, The harpy looked away taking advantage of its race unique physique to look far down the mountain to see if there were other humans following behind or in hiding.

Seeing none, the harpy seamlessly blend in with the cloud around it as it flew up, to Inform of the intruders.

After the Harpy flew away. John looked to the sky at the position where the Harpy was "Somebody was watching us" John thought to himself, but said nothing out loud to scare his men as the mountain path was nothing getting a bit tricky.

As they neared a narrow ledge, John signaled for his men to halt. He scanned the surroundings, noting the sheer drop to one side and the jagged cliffs rising on the other. "This is where we must be most cautious," he said quietly. "One wrong step, and it could be our last."

The group pressed on, their movements careful and deliberate. After what felt like an eternity, they reached a plateau that offered a brief respite. The wind howled around them, carrying the faint cries of distant creatures.

"We’re getting close," John murmured, more to himself than to his men. He could see the faint outlines of structures further up, blending seamlessly with the mountain.

Suddenly, a shadow swooped overhead, followed by the soft rustling of feathers. John looked up just in time to see a harpy land gracefully on a rock outcropping above them. She was imposing, with large wings and sharp talons, her eyes piercing and vigilant.

"Humans," she called out, her voice carrying an otherworldly echo. "You dare approach our sacred domain?"

John stepped forward, his posture respectful but resolute. "We come in peace, seeking an audience with your leaders. We wish to discuss matters of great importance."

The harpy’s eyes narrowed, her gaze sweeping over the group. "What makes you think we have any interest in what you have to say?"

John took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "What If this has something to do the demon named Silas"

The harpy considered his words for a long moment before spreading her wings and taking flight. "Follow me," she instructed. "But be warned, if you show any sign of deceit or aggression, your lives will be forfeit."

Hearing her warning, John looked up to see a group of harpies circling above, their silhouettes stark against the darkening sky.

As John and his weary envoy ascended the final steep incline, the clouds parted like a grand curtain, unveiling a sight so breathtaking it halted them in their tracks. Before them, perched majestically atop the mountain’s peak, stood a city seemingly made of pure gold. The sun’s rays danced across the golden rooftops, creating a dazzling spectacle of shimmering light that painted the sky with hues of amber and molten gold.

The architecture was unlike anything the humans had ever seen. Towers and spires rose elegantly into the sky. The buildings were interconnected by delicate bridges and walkways that appeared to be spun from the finest gold thread, glistening in the sunlight. From their vantage point, they could see lush gardens and crystal-clear fountains scattered throughout the city, their waters catching the light and sparkling like liquid diamonds.

John took notice how the surrounding Mountains were interconnected with each other. John heard Elias, the youngest amongst them ask "Is this what heaven is like?"

The Female Harpy noticed their stunned Visage, a flash of pride flashed across her eyes as she flew down with her wings tucked behind her, walking to one of the bridge connecting to another mountain she said "Follow me"

John and his group nodded, as they took the bridge and took in the ethereal scene of being surrounded by clouds. As they walked across the bridge, the humans could hear the soft hum of Harpies singing, their melodious voices harmonizing with the gentle breeze that carried the scent of exotic flowers and spices. The city’s air was warm and fragrant, a stark contrast to the cold, thin air of the mountain path they had traversed.

The streets of the city were lined with majestic golden statues of Harpies in various poses: some poised as if about to take flight, others in mid-song, their faces carved with expressions of serene beauty and wisdom. The humans marvelled at the craftsmanship, noting how each feather was meticulously detailed, giving the statues a lifelike quality.

"So this is what happens above us all the time, No wonder they paying attention to us lowly humans running around on the ground like ants" John thought to himself while taking in the scene, John was the only one with the though as the others too were feeling too whelmed with the whole situation