THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 296: 296. THE RECEPTION

By following the map, the spies had been able to bring back Sagiri, and the squad was able to avoid all checkpoints. They now stood at the edge of the capital city of Thazir. It was just after nightfall, but the place almost looked abandoned, as if people rarely went and even rarely came out.

”The city is a whole country by itself. In case of a war, the two capitals can sustain the people of the south for up to five years.” N’varu said with pride.

”How amazing,” Kaka said. ”A siege will seem like a normal day, and the enemy will only tire for five years.”

Even so, there were caravans pulling in and out, and a few people.

The capital was built directly into the mountains.

Layers of stone structures climbed the cliffs in enormous tiers lit by thousands of scattered fires and lanterns that burned against the dark rock like veins of gold. Massive walls curved through the canyon entrances below the city, while fortress towers stood high above them, carved directly into the cliff faces. From the outskirts alone, the scale of the defenses felt suffocating. Narrow canyon roads twisted toward the capital between towering walls of black stone, every path overlooked by elevated fortifications built into the mountainside itself. Archways crossed overhead between sections of the cliffs while rows of defensive openings lined the rock above the roads, dark enough that nobody could tell how many soldiers were watching from inside them.

Even the outskirts were fortified.

Watchfires burned along the upper ridges stretching for miles across the mountains while heavily armored gates blocked each canyon approach in layered sections. The deeper one looked toward Thazir, the more impossible the city appeared to assault. It did not feel like a capital built for people.

It felt like a fortress built for war first and civilization second.

Sagiri slowed slightly as the squad reached one of the outer stone ridges overlooking the approach roads. Wind moved through the canyon systems below them, carrying distant echoes of movement from the capital while lights flickered endlessly across the mountain city ahead. Beside him, even some of the squad had gone quiet, looking at it.

Because now that they stood before Thazir directly, they finally understood why no army had ever taken it.

”Abort plan. I think we are all going to die.” Kiuga joked with a sigh, but it was looking more than real for anyone to laugh.

”Let’s go,” Sagiri said.

”Can’t we wait a bit?” Ulekai said.

”You can wait for us here,” Kiuga said. Ulekai jumped quickly and was at the centre of the formation.

Sagiri stepped onto the canyon road first, the rest of the squad following behind him as they began descending into the western passage leading toward Thazir. The deeper they moved, the narrower the path became. Towering walls of black stone rose on both sides high enough to swallow most of the night sky, leaving only a thin strip of stars visible far above them. Their footsteps echoed through the canyon in low, repeating sounds while cold wind moved through the passage carrying dust and the distant scent of burning firewood from the capital ahead.

The scale of the defenses became clearer the farther they walked.

Massive fortified structures had been carved directly into the cliffs overlooking the road above them, narrow defensive openings cut into the stone at different heights where unseen eyes watched every movement below. Thick iron gates stood further ahead across sections of the canyon, each one large enough to stop entire military formations, while smaller side paths branched upward into hidden positions within the mountains themselves. Bridges crossed overhead between cliffs, guarded by armed silhouettes standing motionless against the firelight.

Nobody in the squad spoke much while moving through the canyon. The place itself forced silence. Every step deeper into Thazir felt controlled, observed, and measured by defenses in the shadows.

They barely made it halfway through the final canyon before the command came.

”Stop there.”

The voice thundered down from above the cliffs, sharp enough to halt the entire formation instantly. Sagiri’s squad stopped in the middle of the stone passage while heavy metallic sounds echoed around them. Then the canyon changed.

Defensive shutters slid open high within the cliffs.

Rows of hidden openings appeared in the black stone walls overlooking the road, revealing armored soldiers already aiming downward. More figures emerged along the overhead bridges and elevated fortifications, weapons locking into position with practiced precision until the entire canyon felt covered from every angle.

They had walked into a kill zone. Nobody made it past this point unchecked.

A heavily armored figure stepped forward above the canyon wall overlooking them, his silhouette lit by the fire braziers behind him.

”Identify yourselves,” he ordered coldly. ”Now.”

The squad remained still.

Wind moved through the canyon, carrying dust between both sides, while dozens of weapons stayed trained directly at them.

Then one of the soldiers above suddenly stiffened.

His eyes locked onto Sagiri.

”We are all going to die,” Ulekai shuddered. For this, he was right to be scared, the thazir

The atmosphere shifted almost immediately after that.

”Remove the mask,” another voice shouted from above. Harsher this time.

Several more soldiers repositioned along the cliffs.

Sagiri didn’t move. He was feeling oddly calm. The tension rose in the few minutes. The way the defenders had stopped looking at the group and started focusing only on Sagiri himself. Hands slowly drifted closer to weapons across both sides of the canyon. They must have heard about him, or they knew he was always covered.

”You are armed inside the Thazir approach,” the commander warned. ”State your identity before this escalates further.” He was referring to the small blades the others carried.

The canyon had gone completely silent now.

One wrong movement and they would have an excuse to fire. Sagiri, however, knew they would not fire so easily. Only Sagiri and N’varu could understand the southern dialect. They were speaking the southern common dialect, the Savaik tongue picked from all four tribes of the south. It is slow and sharp at the same time.

”You invite me, and then you stop me. How rude!” Sagiri said loud enough for them to hear.

”What are they saying?” Kiuga asked.

”They are inviting us with open arms, and I was saying thank you,” Sagiri said, and everyone groaned.

”It sounded like a threat!” Ulekai said.

”Well, no shit!” Maita said.

”I am going to need to see your identification, or you have to turn back now!!” the voice, hauling instructions said.

”What if we refuse?” Sagiri said in a cold voice.

”I will give you only one chance to turn around!!” The voice announced again.

Sigh

He is indeed the type to be relentless.

”Is this how Thazir welcomes the chief of the N’Folu tribe?” Sagiri finally lifted his face, opened his eyes, staring especially at the man in charge.

Silence.