Sorry about the long wait.

My course load this term is really heavy. I didn't know it would be this bad until the term progressed.

Basically once I'm done all my midterms it's time for finals. I don't really get a break in between cause things like labs and assignments don't stop just because of tests.

Please bare with me.

The next free time I have will be spent on my other FF as I have to equally split my time between the 2 stories :P

It's a ragnarok online cross over with Gakuen Alice (Basically chars from that anime living in the RO world etc)

If you're interested you can take a look at it from my profile

I could feel my strength disappearing with each monster I cut down.

Damn it, I don't remember it being this hard to get to Niflheim. I guess I was spoiled to always have a priest with me in training. Moping around for the last several weeks probably didn't help either.

I sighed, as I slashed another Bloody Murder across the throat.

At this rate, I might not make it to Niflheim.

I quickly downed a Concentration Potion and a White pot before I continue walking.

"Teehee" I heard something giggle behind me.

I turned around and found myself face to face with a Loli Ruri. I felt a stabbed at my heart as I remembered the days we use to come here to train and collect Black Cat Dolls. I have no idea why such a monster would keep a doll around but I needed them to trade for a Drooping Kitty.

I dodged its attack while trying to look for an opening. As it attacked for a second time, I quickly side step and made a quick jab at her side. She winced in pain from the cut as I moved behind her to finish her off.

The Black Cat Doll fell out of its pocket as she fell to the floor but I didn't bother to pick it up. I don't need them anymore, nor do I want a reminder of the past.

As I continued to fight my way to Niflheim, I put all my bitterness and anger into each cut I made. But even with my anger fueling me, but the strain from all the fighting was too much for my body to handle. I decided to take a quick break leaning on a dead tree nearby. I quickly searched my pockets for potions to help revitalize me and clean up the cuts that I got along the way. As I finished using my potion I heard a lot of footsteps behind me. I turned around just in time to see a blue flash and a mob of monster. I suppose someone had just teleported away from that mob.

Not happy about loosing their target, the monsters gave a loud cry and started looking for a new target. I tried to hide before they could spot me and come closer but it was too late.

Luck just wasn't on my side, since Demons can smell you even when you're hidden as long as they're close by. As they came running at me, I tried in vain to look for my fly wings only to discover that I had forgotten them. As I reach in another pocket for my teleport clip, a Bloody Murder slashed at my arm causing me to drop my clip.

"Damn it," I cursed as I took hold of my katars and started defending myself.

It is impossible to dodge all the oncoming attacks from the monsters. All I could do is try to find a chance to pick up my clip so I can teleport away from the mob.

I quickly dodge behind the tree just out of reach of one monster only to come face to face with another. I'm quickly losing ground as they close in on me.

I can't believe it's all going to end here. I thought since this situation looked very grim. I took another step back only to find myself backed up against a dead tree.

Damn it, what can I do? I thought as the mob came closer and closer.

I made a quick slash at a Loli Ruri at my right only to have a Gibbet hit me from behind.

That hit from behind had hit my head and my vision started to darken.

No amount of pots is going to get me out of this mess. I thought as I concentrated on dodging the attacks from the front while taking some hits from behind.

This is it. Goodbye cruel world. I thought as I fell down on my knees and closed my eyes waiting for the next attack to come and finish me off.

Surprisingly it never came.

I decided to open my eyes when I felt something wet drip onto my face.

I was surprised at the sight in front of me.

Somehow, this priest got through the mob and blocked the attack for me. I don't know how he got there but if he did not get there in time, I would have been a goner.

"Arrow shower," a voice called out from behind the mob.

I saw arrows penetrating the monsters as random. Some monsters were hit in vital spots while others were only scratched or slightly injured. The remaining monsters got distracted by the arrows and turned away from the priest to look at their new attacker.

The monsters started to move towards the hunter only to find themselves stepping into traps.

The hunter worked on shooting at the ones that were not trapped first before setting down more traps around him in case any got too close.

Meanwhile the priest healed himself and turned around to face me.

"Are you ok?" He asked while healing me.

I nodded in response.

While he's tending to my wounds, he'll turn around once in a while to check up on the hunter and give him support as necessary.

"There all done." He said as he finished healing the last of my wounds.

"I can't do anything about the amount of blood you lost tonight, but at least the wounds are healed so you won't be bleeding anymore."

Once again I nodded in response.

It feels weird because it's been a while since I came in contact with another person since I left Alde. Ever since I left, I've stayed to the shadows and kept to myself in the inns and pubs I had been to. The only people I have had to talk to since I left were the staff at the various places I've stayed at as well as the Karfa workers to resupply myself.

When the hunter finished with the monsters he walked over to us.

"Hey Gin, I can use a heal too you know."

The priest turns around and heals his hunter friend then turns around to me again

"Don't mind Aki, he's just looking for attention. Sorry about the mob, I ran out of Sp so we teleported away. We didn't think anyone else would be here at this hour so we teleported without thinking. We're really sorry. We came back as soon as we found out there some someone else training in this area."

I nodded once again. I felt too tired to speak to these people and I didn't feel it was necessary since I didn't know them.

"So, what are you doing here all by yourself at this hour?" The hunter asks.

I turned my face towards him but he couldn't see me looking at him since my eyes were hidden behind the dark blinker.

Sigh, I guess I would have to tell them before they left me go again.

"Going to Niflheim" I responded with the shortest sentence possible to get my point across.

"Oh. We're trying to get there as well! I've heard so much about the place so I'm really excited to see it. We're training and traveling all around Midgard and I heard about this place so I had to come here. Hey, since you're going there too, let's go together!" The hunter exclaimed excitedly. I wondered if all hunter classes were this hyper. Jessie is usually like that too even if she has already explored all of Midgard in her hunter days.

"It's ok, I can get there by myself." I responded in a empty tone as I stood up.

"No, I insist we go with you. You've lost a lot of blood and fatigue will get to you faster then normal. It was our fault that you almost died. Please let us accompany you to Niflheim." The priest pleaded.

Sigh, he's probably right. I did loose a lot of blood to that mob and it's not like potions will give me back the blood I lost. If I was to keep on going by myself I might not be able to make it there. Another option is I ask for a warp and come back another day. But that would be so troublesome to work my way to Niflheim again. I guess that doesn't leave me with much of a choice.

"Fine, but once we get to town I'll be going my own way." I responded.

The priest nods in response and said, "By the way, my name is Gin and this is my brother Akira."

I nodded in acknowledgement as they were introduced to me.

"What is your name?" Gin asks gently.

I tilted my head thinking if I should tell them or not. I haven't given anyone the chance to get close to me since I left home.

However, since they did save my life, I guess I could tell them. "Angel." I responded.

"Alright Angel, lets get going before Aki leaves us behind." Gin said as he started walking to the hunter ahead of us on the path. "He's too hyper for his own good," Gin mutter to himself as he walks ahead as well.

Before I left, I looked around the place for the teleport clip that I had dropped during the fight.

I found it near the edge of the cliff to my right.

After I picked up the clip I looked out over the cliff.

Lucky it didn't roll all the way off the cliff. It's so steep and deep I don't think I can make it down and back up. I guess anything that gets dropped down there is gone and lost forever.

That thought gave me an idea.

I reached around my neck to open the clasp on the necklace holding the rings.

I held my hand out over the cliff staring at the pair of rings.

I've come to Niflheim for a reason. This will be my first step in saying goodbye. I thought as I looked at the rings one last time. Then I open my hand and watched the necklace with the rings fall into oblivion below.

There's no turning back now.

I hope that was long enough :)

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