Unearthing Greatness (4)

BRAAUUUGGHHH!

I pull Josh though the gate just before it closes.

BANG!

"Hold the door!"

"Someone get the Guildmaster!"

I can hear people shouting as I roll to a stop.

BRAAAUUGGHH!

The Griffith's head roars as it pokes through the small opening in the gate. Rasor sharp teeth glint from within its wheelbarrow sized head. Thick muscles bulge against the skin on its back as it tries to force the gate open.

My heart beats through my chest as I scramble away from the monster. Looking to the right, I can see Josh collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. I grab the half-dead boy and drag him away.

It's only at this point that I notice all the chaos around me. People are running away screaming as a dozen guards desperately press against the gate. The cacophony only rises as an intricate red design begins to take form in front of the Griffith's face.

"It's going to use a fire attack! Everybody get back!" A guard warns.

The gate opens slightly. Despite the guards' best efforts, the car sized beast is pushing them back. My blood runs cold as I look up and see it staring straight at me.

I'm gonna die.

A whirlwind of emotions whip through me as I stare death in the face. After a moment of panic, I find myself feeling indignant. Why should I have to die again after just arriving in this world? I've got a fresh start and it's already over?

This feeling grows until it pushes me to my feet. The thought of running away flashes through my mind but I have no doubt this thing will catch me.

Out of the corner of my eye there lies a spear that the guards use. I pick it up and lock eyes with the monster still glaring at me. The magic circle in front of its face is glowing bright red and it's shoulders are threatening to push past the door.

[Nick! We've got to get out of here! What are you doing?]

"Fuck you!" I scream as I run forward and shove the spear down the Griffith's throat. I feel the tip stoke something hard inside before I'm lifted off my feet.

BOOM!

An explosion erupts before me and the world goes black.

"Wahwahnwah wahwa." The next thing I hear is muffled voices as if I'm under water. I open my eyes but can't see anything through the cloud of dust.

[Are we dead?]

"Definitely not, although we might be soon." I remember charging at the Griffith and an explosion but I'm sure a monster that big is still alive. The question is, why am I? Wasn't it about to use fire magic or something?

My head throbs as I struggle to get my bearings. I feel my arms and legs to make sure everything is still attached.

Where's Josh? We need to get out of here.

"Wahwawa!"

The muffled voices are louder but stil incomprehensible.

"Josh? Where are you?"

"Wawah here."

"Josh!"

"I'm right here."

I crawl over to the boy and feel for him with my hands.

"We've got to get out of here!"

"Nick, what happened?"

"I don't know but we need to leave before that Griffith finds us."

"Okay."

With herculean effort, we stumble to our feet and drag ourselves away from the gate. Incoherent shouts ring out all around us but I do manage to pick out one thing from the noise.

"I think the Griffith's dead."

"I can see one of it's arms. I think you're right." I hear to people conversing nearby. Not wanting to wait around to confirm the information, I keep heading toward the center of town.

As we go, the air clears and the people around us begin to calm down.

We soon arrive at the near empty market square and make our way over to the fountain.

"I'm so thirsty." Josh says as he dunks his whole head in the water. The crystal clear surface is so inviting that I do the same.

Cool water covers my head and I take several big gulps to assuage the dryness in my throat.

Suddenly, a hand grabs the scruff of my neck and yanks me out of the fountain.

"Don't go sticking your head in there, people drink out of that."

"Oh, I'm sorry." A thin woman with fiery blue hair and a stern face greets me with her hand still holding my shirt. I'm taken aback by how easily she picked me up considering her smallish stature. There's a hint of sadness in her eyes although maybe I'm just imagining things.

"Do I have something on my face?" She asks having noticed my surprised expression.

"No, I just thought you'd be larger based on how easily you lifted me up." I answer honestly.

"Heh, you don't even know who you're talking to." She grins.

"Not a clue, although I can only imagine that I'm not speaking respectfully enough to you considering you asked me that question."

"Guildmaster! There you are! The situation at the gate is resolved thanks to you." A young guild staff member runs up in the signature aqua marine robes.

"I didn't do shit." The, apparently, Guildmaster responds.

"I think it blew up." I interject.

"No shit, dumbass."

"The name's Nick, actually; although a lot of people do call me that."

The side of the Guildmaster's lips tremble as she stifles a smile.

Got her.

"What are you grinning about, dickwad? Just looking at you pisses me off."

"I get that one a lot too." She bites her lip which makes me smile even more.

Whack

"Ow. What was that for?" I grab the side of my head where the Guildmaster just back handed me.

"Sir, maybe it's best not to publicly abuse the child of a noble." The guild staff member says as politely as possible.

"So, you're a noble brat, huh? Certainly explains that mouth of yours." I shrug at her dig as any response will likely end with me getting hit again.

"Sir, we still need to deal with the aftermath of the Griffith attack."

"Fine. Let's go talk to the Count and see what he wants to do."

As the two guild employees amble off, I turn back to Josh who is asleep on the edge of the fountain.

Not bad for his first day of training. Hopefully tomorrow is less exciting.