"The time has come; the walrus said to sing a merry melody," Norbert said to the empty room; the sun wholly set in the sky by now just the last bit of rays painting the sky red; he must have left enough time for everyone to get into position by now.
Looking one last time out the window, now feeling strange that he likely would never sit there again, watching the people move about their day below him, wondering how many other places he has been for the last time. He had a sad smile on his face as the door creaked closed behind him. Slowly he took the stairs one at a time; no need to rush now; there would be plenty of time for that later.
On the bottom floor, Norbert saw Krrrasna still sitting there, waiting for guests, as diligent as ever. Norbert passed him, bowing to the man and dropping a gold coin from his purse. Krrrasna caught the coin out of the air, an expression of disbelief on his face, for that was the fifth gold coin that group had given him tonight. Not wanting to say anything, the cat-man bowed silently, hoping these generous guests would return one day.
Norbert stepped outside, the wind blowing against him as he felt it across his neck, the only part of his body exposed. Breathing in deeply, Norbert calmed himself as he stepped forward, looking straight ahead and walking towards the bridge.
Seeing the queue already forming and getting longer, Norbert stepped in line, fiddling with the silver coin needed for entry. Ready to hand it over and make it to the bridge's centre. Moving to the side so he could see the front of the line nodding his head as each person was checked.
Slowly shuffling forward, Norbert waited until he was at the front of the line. Looking at the soldier, armed with leather on his body, similar to the wolf he had seen the other day. He looked up curtly, commanding, "One silver … remove your mask." After a pause, seeing Norbert's mask covering his face.
Norbert just nodded as he passed over the silver piece. "Mask." the guard said again, hand resting over the dagger on his belt. Norbert smiled as he took it off, knowing he was acting extremely suspicious, but the alarm bells would be ringing soon.
As Norbert just smiled, the soldier's eyes in front of him hardened. "You're coming with me," he said as he waved his head to Norbert, skimming his eyes over and seeing two other guards from down the bridge walking until they saw the confrontation when they started to jog, rushing over.
Norbert smiled as he put the mask back on his face, everyone backing away, leaving him alone. Breathing deeply, Norbert started to push energy around his body, knowing it was time for action. Hood tucked under the mask again, Norbert shouted with all his might.
"ARZLAN!"
His shout travelling away from himself, everyone around him wincing from the noise, Norbert hearing his cry bounce back from the ravine and the city around him, everyone else quiet, the only thing being heard was the name Arzlan, echoing everywhere like the entire city was taunting him until finally, silence captured all.
Everyone standing still as statues, nobody daring to move. The guard before him swallowed their nerves, taking a step forward. With that single step, the dam holding back the chaos the crowd around him dispersing as they flocked away. Norbert burst into action, rushing past the guards and reaching the bridge's centre.
Cries and shouts were now coming from all directions, blocking them out as they would only be a distraction for what was to come. Now near the bridge's centre, Norbert raised one fist into the air as he smashed it downwards, splintering the timber underneath him, sending it clattering bellow.
Arm now aching, Norbert sent energy through it as he stood up, lifting a foot before he slammed that down, smashing through. Going closer to the edge, Norbert raised his foot again, smashing it down. As it landed, a creaking came out from under his foot.
Smiling, Norbert did it a third time; now the guards, instead of trying to capture him, ran away, wanting to get away from this madman and off the bridge he was actively destroying as quickly as possible. Now able to see through the ravine below, Norbert watched a crack forming on the beam holding the bridge up. Smiling at his success, Norbert jumped through the hole he just made, catching onto the beam as he lifted himself onto it, hearing more cracks appear as the wood beneath him begged for release.
Crouching down, looking to the other side with the other beam positioned there, legs pressed under him, leaning forward, he shot himself away, hearing the beam he was on finally give out from under him, a chunk of it falling into space.
Smashing into it with his shoulder, pain shooting down his arm as he held onto it with one hand, pulling his legs up as he straddled the beam. They looked up, seeing the entire bridge tip down to the side already damaged, almost feeling the wood underneath him trying to twist with the strain under it.
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Raising his hand Norbert smashed it down, the entire bridge groaning and shuddering with the impact. Preparing himself for the fall, Norbert smashed his hand in one final time, the straw breaking the camel's back as he felt weightless.
Tumbling through the air, the wind whipping past him, hearing it scream in his ears as wooden debris surrounded him. Turning around, seeing the bridge slowly collapse underneath him. Spinning around again to face the ground, Norbert spread-eagled, like the skydivers on TV, as he guided himself to the side of the ravine.
Norbert flexed his gloves the last moment before impact, hoping the reinforcement would hold up. Impacting with the stone, his fingers skidding across it, Norbert reached with his other hand, feet and knees dragging on the wall, chips coming off where his fingers started to dig into the stone as Norbert pumped energy into it. Down he went passing lights on the way down, the remains of the bridge overtaking him. Norbert a purple speck falling with the debris.
Seeing a ridge coming off the ravine, a stage used for access, Norbert kicked away, smashing into it as he continued to roll, now able to see the bottom. With one final smash into the ground, Norbert just looked up at the sky, clouds covering the stars and moon he was used to seeing out here now.
Pain covered his entire body as Norbert forced energy through hit, surprised that it felt like he hadn't touched his reserves, happy for all the training Azalea had forced him to do. Sitting up and groaning, Norbert took stock of his body, feeling around himself.
He has no sharp pains and all mobility in his joints. Feeling his arms straighten out again, Norbert saw a wet spot in the clothing from his blood. Feeling with his left hand on his arm confirmed that it was all healed again as he felt the energy being sucked away by the wound.
Laughing, Norbert shouted, not wanting his target to think he died. "ARZLAN!" he shouted once more, echoing around him, his crowd calling for the fighter to appear. Trusting that he would show up given time, Norbert looked up at his side of the ravine, seeing how to make his way back up to the surface.
Scanning his side of the ravine, a simple path jumping out to him cut out from the rock, layer by layer going higher, dotting the path torches were lit, and shrugging his shoulders, he unsheathed his sword, making his way over to the start.
Now at the bottom Norbert could see it was a desolation of waste, looking like a cage fight for prisoners and any extra garbage being thrown off. Currently there wasn't anyone around, scanning further down dotted hills, focusing on them seeing they were entrances to go even deeper.
Dismissing it he stepped up to the path, the first soldier poking their head out of the door wondering what all the noise was. Norbert immediately kicking the door back in, slamming it against the humanoid as he flew back into the room he just came out of. A resounding crack as part of the door wooden door broke under the impact.
Ducking inside, seeing passageways cut into the rock, an entire maze nestling about. Nodding to himself that it could be ignored, he exited again, noting to keep an eye out for any other passages that could be filled.
Taking out his compass, Norbert stood still, flicking between the first two options. Confirming that it was still pointing to the other side of the ravine, he flicked to the first option, nodding his head that it was roughly in the same position, having made its way down, though would ask next time to have altitude used as well, thinking about what lay beneath the ravine. The streams of soldiers he was expecting were finally showing ahead; time to complete the distraction.
Norbert, flushed with energy, charged forward, screaming a battle cry. Sword held in both hands, he slammed it into the first person, no resistance given as the opponent couldn't even react as the blade cleanly cut through them, hearing the body tumble down the side.
A shield appearing in his vision; Norbert spun around, knowing he shouldn't face his back to the opponent as he held the sword in his left hand, punching the shield with his right. The shield not breaking under the impact, but still hearing something crack as it was pushed into the soldier, soon the sword following suit, digging into the humanoid's shoulder; Norbert stepped back to remove the blade, the first cry of many to begin as he started climbing back up.
Making his way forward, the bodies in front of him slowing him down as he continued to make his way up the ravine, doubling back occasionally to confirm with the compass, now only hearing the clashing of swords and cries of people.
A quarter of the way up, Norbert felt a presence behind him, instinctually spinning around the sword, swinging as the blade battered against something, grabbing his blade and trying to hurl it out of his hands. Grasping on as tightly as possible, knowing if he let the sword go, he would have troubles in the future. The more he resisted, the stronger the other force was, until finally, it suddenly released Norbert's as he lost his footing trying to right his balance. Stepping back again away from the rushing soldiers, having seen an opportunity, Norbert couldn't see his assailant at all, the creature having disappeared into the shadows.
Norbert shivered as a cry came out from behind him, a shield smashing into the back of his head, dropping to the ground and rolling backwards down the walkway, creating distance. Landing on his feet, no longer trying to steadily make his way up, not wanting to be trapped by whatever caught him before.
Becoming a wave of Death, Norbert made his way higher and higher, nobody streaming in anymore; as he received more and more momentum, becoming a wave of destruction on these tiny people, they started to run away. Norbert just pushed them down, having achieved what he wanted, being mass confused. He reached the end, seeing the path turn back on itself, an alcove cut into the rock, creating space for operations and equipment and a resting place, Norbert spotting boxes and such.
Sitting on the box was the hulking of a man, his twin blades leaning next to him; in a crate, Norbert saw him take out an apple, munching on it, the juices streaking down his chin.
Norbert is standing opposite Arzlan as Norbert looks at the delectable apple. "Mind if I have one?" Norbert asked the giant.