Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 392 - 391 - Babylon Guild

It only took part of a day to reach a sprawling caravan.  Lind thought it was some kind of traveling traders caravan but then he noticed rather advanced artifacts that would be a waste in a caravan.

There were Qi gathering arrays, what looked like a portable forge for refining, an alchemical concoction setup, and what looked a great deal like education materials being packed up.

"A recruiting caravan."  The words came out of Lind and Azylea nodded in approval.

"Very good, Pup, you shall get a treat later!"  He was getting supremely tired of being treated like a pet!  It had not even been a day and he almost wished to state who he was but refrained.

Too many were already looking for him and he did not want to give the Sword Breakers a good lead either.  He had loved ones living in the Isles that had no idea what he was up to.

"Lady Azylea–"  Another female aether child flew up but froze at the sight of Lind.  Rather than be stunned, the crimson and tan woman seemed to become very tired.  "Not another one!"

Lind now looked at Azylea and saw a sheepish look on her face!  What was going on?!

"He is so cute though!  I can keep him, right?!"  Lind felt his anger rising but then the new woman smacked Azylea upside her head.

"Humans are not pets!  Stop doing this, you have an example to set for the others in the guild!"  Lind was nodding along with her words before he felt pressure on him.  "As for you!  Why have you not stood up to her?!  You are at tier 2 and a–"

Her voice froze before shock flashed over her eyes.  Lind realized she had examined him!

"I beg–"  Before she could continue, Lind snapped his fingers.  The change made Azylea flinch but Lind took on a firm attitude.

"I did scare one of your younger members out of my own choice.  I also did not answer Senior Azylea's question correctly so I could not refute her caution."  The woman slowly nodded and then understanding crossed her face.

"I understand!  Never fear, the Babylon Guild will guide you on your journey!"  Lind grabbed the bridge of his nose.  Was everyone in this guild so excitable?

"Hey, Pup–"  A massive chop came down on Azylea's head.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!  Never, ever call him that!"  Lind now wished for a tribulation or some cataclysmic event to stop all the attention.  He might as well hold up a sign advertising his location for anyone to find him!

"Seniors, please let us go somewhere more private."  A blush came over both of them and Lind followed them down to one of the larger wagons.  A token was produced from the other woman that clicked into place on a panel on the wagon.

A symbol flared that made Lind's eyes narrow.  While he had encountered similarities from his old world at times, he actually recognized something from his father's favorites.

It had a 5 with a shield and sword behind it.  The sword was with the hilt at the bottom and it was dark blue when it flared.  The name of the guild with that symbol could not be a coincidence!

When they stepped inside, Lind nearly tripped over some cloth covers on the floor.  It was a mess in the wagon that made the fire and earth Qi aether child to smack Azylea once more.

"I TOLD YOU TO CLEAN UP IN HERE!"  True guilt flashed across his captor but Lind liked the warm feeling.  It was the feeling of family in that moment.

"I was going to when I returned!  You said it was fine!"  Lind began to have his lips twitch before his shoulders began to shake as laughter flowed out of him.  All the darkness and tense situations of the last year seemed to melt away.

The 2 women stared at him as if he was insane but as tears fell from his eyes they were shocked.  Was it really that funny?

"My apologies, I simply have had a rough time lately so you caught me off guard."  His explanation was easily believable as Scorched Gorge was part of the Ravaged Isles.  It was not a place many came to willingly without a purpose.  Given his current state, it was clear Lind had come into difficulties.

"We meant no disrespect, Mastery Frey."  The moment the other woman spoke, Azylea had her eyes bulge massively.  She actually shook as Lind enjoyed her reaction.  He bowed respectfully before 2 badges appeared in his hands.

Both narrowed to note one was darker jade than the other.

"I am, indeed, Lind Frey.  May I know your name and what your guild is about?"  The other woman jumped as her guess was confirmed but blushed she had not introduced herself!

"I am Huo, a Caravan Leader of the Babylon Guild."  Azylea also bowed at Huo's words.

"I am Azylea, also a Caravan Leader of the Babylon Guild."  Lind bowed back and waited for the rest.

"Our guild exists across the Floating Isles but while our headquarters is located in the Epsilon Island near the core islands, we travel for decades recruiting promising members but we exist as a kind of mediator force."  Lind tilted his head at Huo's explanation.

"You have heard of the Sect Treaty?"  Lind nodded to Azylea but then his eyes went round.

"You have the power of final mediator between all powers?!"  Both women nodded and Lind felt shocked.  No wonder they had such a massive caravan!

They had to bring a large group of negotiators as well as be ready to repair artifacts or setup a complex environment to isolate parties from the outside of the world.

It was clear why they had so many people and such high end wagons.  The beasts seemed to be procured locally as they were some kind of lizard that could cross the stony ground with ease.

They looked like giant iguanas to Lind's untrained eye but based on his research, they should be shard hoppers.  They were found in environments much like the Scorched Gorge and they lightly hopped from one safe spot to another.

Compared to a horse or cow, their muscles were much more flexible but the weight they could carry was far higher.

"May I ask a question, who named the island your headquarters is on?"  It was too big of a coincidence to Lind but both women looked at him in confusion.

"The islands were named long ago by the first cultivators, but our guild was founded not long after that started.  It could be one of our founders but I have never researched it."  Azylea was honest with her lack of interest while Huo seemed to want to slap her again.

"It is not exactly recorded, but according to legend, Babylon Guild was founded just after the Ravaged Isles incident.  It proved a force was needed that was not beholden to any faction.  Our backers in the Heaven Realm are not low either, thus we came to be.  Now, it is simply our service we provide."  Huo's description tickled Lind's memory.

A war happened and had tragic consequences, and an organization under the name Babylon located on the Epsilon Island was formed.

It was someone from Earth!  This one, however, seemed more kind.  Lind hoped they held onto that.

He pushed the thought aside and simply addressed the largest issue, his identity.

"I made my own way up to the Isles, but had a lucky encounter in Elysium Plains.  I am now trying to find a way to get around without drawing attention."  Huo nodded but Azylea looked confused.  Lind started to truly wonder when Hua just sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Please excuse my partner, Master Frey.  She has a–unique–outlook on the world.  She likes to collect people much how she collected you."  Lind felt his temple twinge as both Huo and he turned to look at Azylea.

"HEY!  Stop that!"  Any semblance of an austere senior was gone and a spoiled child seemed to emerge.  Lind was about to ignore her when he recalled the lava pool.  His aura flared suddenly and both women reacted drastically differently.

Huo seemed to panic and Azylea became serious as dark and light flared in her hands, ready to attack.  The roles reversed as Huo seemed to cower and the once pouting Azylea became the trusted senior.

"I see, twins."  It was very rare, but aether children could manifest as twins.  They were not identical, at least not to his knowledge, but there were tell tale signs.  The personalities were counter balances of each other.

Huo was an administrator, but Azylea was a warrior.  Put them in their environment and they would be unparalleled experts of terrifying ability, but outside of that, they could be very immature and temperamental.

Sadly, if one of the twins died, the other seemed to become dead in their soul.  They also could not be far from each other physically.  Even slavers were very careful with twin aether children.

Both women realized Lind was the source of aura and his words made them freeze.  Lind's dark green eyes seemed to glow before he slowly nodded.

"You must be very good representatives for the Babylon Guild, to help build peace.  Would you be in need of an elixir master?"  Lind saw both women's eyes go wide in shock.  They glanced at one of his badges and would be insane to turn him down.

"What would you be charging the guild?"  Huo was now back on firm ground but Lind grinned like a wolf to his prey.

"I want off this island without revealing who I am."  Huo felt a headache while Azylea began to laugh at the absurdity of his request.  It was totally in favor of Lind's goals while he held all the power in the form of precious elixirs!

"I will pay for information as well, but keeping me means getting me off this island."  Lind threw an offer at the end that was more palatable but only just.  They looked at each other before nodding to Lind.  He bowed and smiled at them.

The bargain for freedom was struck, and he had work to do.