AC: Here's the short story number 9 that gives some background for Gal'Drad and Neth'uar.


Short story 9: Gal'Drad the hero

(After chapter 23)

*Flashback*

Neth'uar was passing throw a tunnel to return to his town after an intense training at the Neph'tuun Academy. He was already a soldier, but he perfected his battle skill. He was limited since he only had tentacles compare to other Chieftain.

He swam slowly when he reached a cavern. He was halfway from his home now. He reached a part which is a cavern with multiple tunnels. He swam at one of them when he heard one M'arrillian shouting.

"Earthquake!"

He knew it was a Kha'rall since they were the only one walking on the ground. They could fell it. M'arrillians swam and ran away when the top of the cavern cracked. They swam as fast as they could.

Neth'uar tried to escape, but one rock felt on his long tail and he was trap there. He saw more rock falling and he wondered if anything felt on the ground and luckily, none of them felt on him. He tried pushing the rocks, but he only had 2 tentacles usable and they weren't strong enough to free him.

{I'm stuck! Help!} Neth'uar shouted. He looked around and the only one present was crushed under rocks.

He immediately looked away from it, it was just unbearable to watch what might become of him.

He looked around and he felt the ground shaking. It wasn't over yet. He knew some rock will fell on him. He looked around and he hoped someone will save him.

{HELP! ANYONE! I'M STUCK!} Neth'uar screamed in the mind of every M'arrillian around. He continued calling for help for a long time.

{The tunnels are blocked! We're coming as fast as we can!} A replied came after a while.

Neth'uar shivered. He knew they didn't have time. He looked at the top of the cavern and he saw a rock that could felt and crushed his head at any time. He looked around and he started to panic. He was a new soldier and wasn't brave from inexperience.

He felt the ground shaking again. He looked at the roof and he saw the ground cracking. He screamed in fear when he saw the rock about to crush his head. He closed his eyes and he heard a sound. He didn't feel any pain and he wondered what happen. He slowly opened his eyes and he saw something green. He then opened them fully and he saw what it was.

"Gal'Drad." Neth'uar said. He wasn't expecting him.

Gal'Drad was holding a big rock on his back alone. He was forcing with all the strength his body possess. He had problem holding it and it was clear by the painful grunt he made.

{Are you alright? Can you move?} Gal'Drad asked.

He couldn't say anything or he'll drop it. So Gal'Drad talked with his mind.

"No. I'm still stuck. Not enough tentacles to push it away." Neth'uar replied.

{I'll hang in there. URGH! Rescues are coming soon. I just barely passed in a small passage to get to you.} Gal'Drad said while forcing to hold on.

Neth'uar saw that Gal'Drad was grunting like he was holding the world on his shoulder. One of the spikes of the rock pierced the shoulder plate of Gal'Drad and entered in his flesh. Gal'Drad grunted in pain and he felt on his knee. The rock lowered closer to Neth'uar.

Neth'uar used his tentacles to help him holding on, but he didn't have strength.

"You should let me die." Neth'uar said. He didn't want to say that, but he couldn't bear to cause the death of Gal'Drad, one of their best soldiers over him.

{No.} Gal'Drad replied.

"You're going to die! I'm less important than you, but thank you for trying to save me." Neth'uar said.

{No! My general taught me everything he knew before he passed away! He told me to never abandon a soldier of our tribe or a citizen in need! If I do that, I'm not a soldier!} Gal'Drad replied.

Neth'uar said nothing. He then saw him about to lose all his strength when they heard something.

"I'M COMING!"

Aval'par appeared and he saw the situation. He came beside Gal'Drad and helped him to maintain it.

{Kha'ralls are coming!} Aval'par said.

They continued resisting and the Kha'ralls were there and rescue them. They worked together and they broke the rock. They checked for injuries and freed Neth'uar. His tail was broken and he couldn't swim.

Gal'Drad picked him up and he brought him to his home.

"Thank you." Neth'uar said. "You're a hero."

"I just did my job." Gal'Drad said. He didn't even care about being a hero. He just did what he learned.

*Present time*

Neth'uar opened his eyes and he woke up from his dream. He shook hid head and he thought about his dream. Everything was clear in his mind.

"Never abandon a soldier in need." Neth'uar whispered. "I betray you and made you regret to save me. You saved my life when you could die."

The dream made him sob and he moved his tentacles over his eyes. His dream made him felt so ashamed of what he had done. He felt like he was a monster.

He remembered what he talked about Remi. He had to apology and tried to obtain his forgiveness. He already made the first step already with Bahrakatan and he hoped the Coralsmith will give a word to Gal'Drad.


AC: This is the end of this short story.

Short story 10: The mysterious stone.

This one will be a hint for the sequel Hybrid Warrior.