"Holy crap!" yelled Zack looking at the massive numbers of the Orcs, "What the hell is this???"
"They must be planning a full-strike invasion above. I don't think the entire Midgard forces is prepared for such an army," said Gabrielle, "Everyone will get slaughtered."
Nida heard what his friend's say but decided to ignore them. There were so many of them. After he recalled the previous battle above, it seemed that was only a spectacle of the Orkish army and not even the Pronteran Calvary could have stopped that attack. Nida felt his heartbeat increased by the minute he thinks of what will happen to the world above. He then thought about the chain of events he went through so far. Was it fate for them to find this army or just pure luck? That was entirely up to them to decide. Now Nida knows what he has to do next – get out and warn the forces above.
"We have to warn everyone above," said Nida, "At least they can be prepared when the invasion comes."
"Great, I don't see an exit sign!" said Zack sarcastically.
Nida rolled his eyes, annoyed with Zack's sarcasm and stupid humor.
"Why don't you dig up a tunnel out of here?" suggested Gabrielle.
"I'm not sure how far we are from the surface,"
"Friggin" great" yelled Zack, "We are all going to die then."
"Don't say that!" exclaimed Gabrielle.
We are all going to die? Might be, thought Nida. It seems he didn't have much options or any idea on what to do. If he can't warn everyone above and that leaves only one thing.
"We'll have to stop the army ourselves then," said Nida, his eyes fixed on the huge bonfire hanging above.
Both Zack and Gabrielle froze for a moment and then look at each other. Zack then pointed out to the entire army "You're kidding right? I mean the three of us against that!"
"Look, I know it seems impossible. But I think I have a plan…"
"What are you going to do, dig up a whole to cause a huge earthquake?" snorted Zack.
"Shut up Zack!" said Gabrielle, "Have faith in Nida!"
Have faith in Nida? That's a new one he thought.
"So what's the plan?" asked Gabrielle.
"Well, I'm going to climb all the way up there," he pointed out to the huge bonfire, "And try to cut the ropes."
Zack gave a dumbfounded look and turned back to Nida. "You know what, I take it back. You are crazy!"
"You have a better idea?" asked Nida.
"Nah I like it. Crazy but at least it has some meaning to it," replied Zack with a grin, "So you're gonna climb up there. What do we have to do?"
Nida raised an eyebrow and glanced up at his two friends. "Er, I haven't thought about that yet. I guess you should sit back and watch what I do."
"Crap, you're going to get all the friggin' glory!" laughed Zack.
"We can all just say we did it together after it's done," smiled Nida, "Agreed?"
"Well if it's going to be that way. I'll lend you a hand with the blessings of a Priestess," sang Gabrielle liking Nida's idea and possibly his courage.
"You need anything from me?" asked Zack.
Nida looked around trying to find something, "Protect her."
Zack grinned and nodded.
Gabrielle casted Nida everything she knew back at the church. From Blessings until the song of Kyrie Eleison. She wished she could do better but Nida said it was enough and thanked her for her efforts. The three of them split, leaving Zack and Gabrielle to tend towards the outcold Gregory. Nida moved ahead slowly avoiding contact with any Orcs. This plan needs to be perfect; his failure will be the doom of mankind. Nida used his entire skills of stalking and the likes, he hid behind the rocks and in the shadows and then moved on to get a better spot to climb. Gabrielle's blessing was a great help; it made the challenge much more easier.
Nida spot a great place for him to climb but it was surrounded with Orcs including the hulkish High Orcs. He remembered facing a few earlier and it wasn't a neat sight. Nida then decided to tunnel his way there and it proved to be a great idea. After awhile a few of the Orcs cleared the area and Nida felt like his plan was going to be a success. He looked around to see what the Orcs were up to and then he saw they were all gathering closer to a huge Orc in the middle – the Orc Lord. Nida ignored them and concentrated on the objective. He took out two daggers and drived one of them into the hard cavern walls and vice-versa with the other. It was the only way to climb.
As he climbed, Nida feared only a few things: breaking his daggers or falling. He tried to erase those thoughts from his mind and continued climbing up. No negative thoughts, he begged to himself. He kept climbing and then suddenly he felt he was going to be all right. As he was about to strike another time he heard a loud roar. He turned around and saw the Orc Lord pointing at him from a far. He's been spotted. He cursed a four-letter word and thought of no other option but to climb up. He was still far away from the bonfire torch, at least a mile or two.
He turned around again to take another look at the Orcs. Then what he saw terried him, the entire archers were at the ready to fire. Nida was feeling like letting go of the daggers he was hanging on to get out of the range but still the drop would kill him instead. Nida looked around for some place safe – but to no avail.
The archers were at the ready only awaiting their Masters' orders.
Is it all over, Nida thought? Is this the way it's going to end?
--------------
The archers were at the ready awaiting for their Masters' orders.
Nida felt it was all over – he failed saving mankind just the way he failed to tell how he felt about Gabrielle. But then he had no regrets. She had kind of open up to him even though it was going to end this way. He just wished he could tell her.
Then the Orc Lord let out another roar - a signal to fire.
Thousands of arrows were shot into the air all aiming towards Nida. Dying by a rain of arrows, he thought. What a way to die. He closed his eyes trying not to see how close the missiles of death were until someone shouted "PNEUMA!"
A misty green cloud appeared out of nowhere covered Nida. The Orcs were stunned to see what had happened. The green mist eventually cleared and shockingly to them Nida was alive. Even he could not believe it himself. Nida was saved; he looked around and spotted his lifesaver. It was Gabrielle – his miracle in flesh and blood.
"Nida! Hurry up!" yelled Zack from a far.
Nida nodded and then continued to climb. He thanked that he didn't let go off the daggers.
The Orc Lord turned around and located the two troublemakers. He let out a loud roar and then ordered his minions to charge after the two. Like a river of death they charged against Zack and Gabrielle. Zack turned to Gabrielle to find a solution.
"You know you can used that err Pneuma right about now!" exclaimed Zack.
"That spell was only for projectiles!" said Gabrielle.
"Now you tell me!"
Nida looked around and saw his friends being the center of attention now. He looked up from where he's hanging. He had a clear view of the rope hanging the torch. His only solution: hurl a dagger to cut the ropes and save them. Nida took a few deep breaths; he can't afford to miss this. He closed his eyes and prayed and then finally he tossed one of the daggers hard towards the rope.
The dagger spinned like a saw-blade, Nida had it planned out. The dagger spinned and eventually cut the ropes and the bonfire torch came crashing down from the sky. The Orc Lord looked and saw what was coming for him and his Horde. The torch crashed down and the Horde was set ablaze by the oil and flames. All of them were now running a mock trying to flee for their lives instead of taking Zack and Gabrielle's.
Nida did it – he saved them and the world. He gave a sigh of relief.
Zack helped Gabrielle to a higher ground to avoid the flames; that was rushing down through the cavern. Most of the Horde perished while the survivors ran deep back into the dungeons probably to live and fight another day.
After a few moments later, Nida got back down. He felt like he never wants to climb again. He rejoined with his friends only to be welcomed by a big hug from Gabrielle. He turned and noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Gregory?" he asked.
"We hid him somewhere safe," said Gabrielle, "Just before we went out to help you.
"Oh, I see."
"Hey man! You're a friggin' hero!" said Zack excitedly, "Wait until I tell the others!"
Nida could simply laugh at the notion.
"Nah I couldn't do it without you guys," he said.
"But you were the one doing everything!" said Gabrielle, "You were the one to save us all!"
"It was nothing," he replied with a grin, "I was kinda afraid back there. Hell I almost died if not for you!"
Gabrielle laughed. Nida turned around to find Zack but he seemed to have dissapeared. The Blacksmith returned with Gregory where they had hid him. He was still woozy from Nida's punch.
"So shall we get out of here?" Zack suggested.
Both Nida and Gabrielle nodded. Finally they were going home.
------
A few days later, everything was pretty back to normal.
Nida eventually went back to being a loner. After that last adventure, he felt like taking his life much more easier. After getting out of the dungeons, everyone was pretty much happy to see him back alive including the others. Everyone was stunned when they heard how Nida saved them all. To those who did not believe the tale went to check out the huge torch he cut loose and eventually discovered it and a few thousand burned corpses. Nida pretty much didn't care what they believe, as long as him and his friends are alright that's all that matters. He wasn't much of a fame and glory seeker in the first place. He was now known as a great hero.
Gabrielle returned to the Pronteran Church the day after she got out. She prayed and thanked how the Lord had blessed her and everything. She also became a public figure among the people in the Church and also the Pronteran community. Word of how she helped the great Nida in his plan spread like wild fire. And most of them she had to be modest and tell a different side of the story.
Zack's business couldn't have been much better. After knowing he was one of those who saved Midgard, almost everyone wanted to buy his goods and get a chance to talk to him. Because of that Zack needed to hire his brothers to help him most of the time. He couldn't have been much happier.
Not much is known about Gregory, just that he was taken back home right after everyone got out. Despite the events that happened, Nida made him look like a hero by saying he selflessly defended everyone from being attacked. Until know Nida hasn't received word from him.
Back in Al De Baran, the usual spot beside the river.
"So hero… how does it feel?" laughed Ariel.
Nida glanced up and smiled. "Great, I never felt better!"
"Aha! Well is that sarcasm or what?"
"Guess!" he grinned.
Ariel rolled her eyes and sat beside him. "So where is your boyfriend?"
"Wha?"
"Kahran, silly-rabbit."
"Oh I guess, he's gone back to Morroc I suppose," Nida replied, scratching his head, "Why?"
"Darn, he was supposed to go take me hunting!" she scoffed. Ariel then rolled her eyes and turned towards Nida, "So, Nida! You free now or later?"
Nida backed away a few inches from her, "Well… my schedule is kinda tight right now."
"Yeah right," she said, "I'm sure you have lot's of things to do like sitting down on your butt and watch the clouds!"
"Well I'm too lazy to take you out hunting!" exclaimed Nida, "Besides why do I have to?"
"Because you're cute?" she said sheepishly.
Nida blushed but kept his cool not intending to lose to her, "I wonder how you manage to convince Kahran to help you?"
"I just ask him,"
Nida frowned at Ariel sensing that wasn't really the truth. She sighed and gave in, "Alright, alright… I just put up a cute face for him!"
"Figures!" chuckled Nida, "Well I guess I'll have to take you hunting then."
"I'd thought you never say so. But why the sudden change of mind?"
"I'm bored!" he said with a grin.
"Silly-rabbit," Ariel said.
Nida led Ariel somewhere in deep parts of Comodo where the Alligators are neat and friendly, sort of. Despite the fact he hates to take care of others, Ariel was an exception. She wasn't really the stupid and boring party members who would have replied the same thing over and over again. She has a great personality and clearly fun to be with.
"Hey, I wanna know…" Ariel asked, "Why didn't you tell her you love her?"
Nida frozed, "Who?"
"Gabrielle!!!" sanged Ariel, "The love of your life!"
Nida rubbed his nose and smiled, "Nah, she's better off without me. I mean despite everything I went with her I realized she's better of just being my friend."
"Really, why so?"
"Well since, I don't know. I can't imagine being with her forever a few days ago," he explained.
"Hmm, sounds retard-ic," she giggled.
"Rub it in," he snorted, "Well I don't see why you shouldn't be with Kahr."
She turned around and frowned. "Like I told you before, I love him like a brother."
Nida gave her a blank look at then just nodded. Nida caught the attention of an Alligator and then fend him off while Ariel killed it. She strodded and bent over to pick up the loot it dropped. Usually Nida doesn't pay much attention but suddenly he can't stop looking at Ariel. Ariel knew she was being watched and turned back towards Nida.
"Nida! What's with the look on your face!" she yelled.
"Er… huh?" he mumbled, "Oh sorry I was thinking about something."
"Yeah right, you were practically looking at my body! Pervert!" she yelled and tossed the loot at him.
"Ow! That hurt!" he cried.
"Help! I'm with a pervert! A rapist!" she laughed and began running around frantically.
"Hey come back here!" said Nida and chased after her.
The two of them practically all over the place and eventually manage to grab but only to fall into a small pond. She turned towards him and laugh, how silly they were. Nida however didn't find anything to laught about, he just sulked.
"Great! Now we're all soaking wet," he complained.
"Ah relax," she said, "Look at it this way, at least you get to take a bath!"
"Excuse me, I take a bath five times a day!"
"How neat you are then," she giggled.
"Bah!" he scoffed and splashed the water.
Ariel could only giggle seeing the look on Nida's face. He looked cute when he's angry. Then she just stood close to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was stunned and then gave her a dumb look, "What was that for?"
"Saying I'm sorry," she smiled.
Nida knew there was something about Ariel he couldn't figure it out. She was perfect. And like it or not, his heart was sealed with a kiss.
the end finally