12- The Gorgog

The old wizard was out of breath. He surveyed the others around him and they were battered and bruised. It was becoming clear that this group would not be able to stop the creature. It was going to break their line and kill them all and acolytes that are hiding behind the walls of the academy. He knew what he had to do, and it really was a last resort, he was running out of time.

“Acolyte Rand! “ The old wizard yelled. Rand was in his last year and in the top of the class. He was their best hope to make the wizarding council in a few years which would bring much prestige to the academy.  “Yes Head Wizard?” Ran breathed hard as he ran over to the Head Wizards cover from his own.

“Acolyte Rand, please head back into the academy. Head to the small stone house outback and bring me Groundskeeper Nicholas.” Rand was a very attentive student and any other request would have received an immediate “Yes sir.” This request however, brought him to a stand. Just then a body came flying over their heads and hit a nearby tree. It was the body of Defensive Wizard Barns. “Listen to me Acolyte” said the Head Wizard. RUN and get Nicholas. Tell him that I personally call him and bring him back here as soon as possible. “ “Yes sir” said Rand and off he went.

Once Rand was clear of the fight and safe...for now. He thought about how strange of a request this was. Groundskeeper Nicholas not only had no magic but he kept to himself. Rand had never seen him actually speaking with anyone with the exception of the headmaster. All new students were warned to stay away from Nicholas and that any harm done to him would be grounds for dismissal, but we were never told anything more. Now Rand was running for his life , to get this person. The great wizards who ran the school were fighting the greatest threat to the school in over 100 years and they were losing. How was this nobody going to help.

Rand reached the groundskeeper's house in record time, it was a big campus. He slowed up right at the door and knocked. The door slowly swung open. Rand entered the small home. It had two main rooms, and a staircase that went down into a basement. The second room appeared to be the bedroom and Nicholas was not there. Rand then went down the stairs calling for the groundskeeper.

The door at the bottom of the stairs opened and there he was. Dressed simply as always in his brown acolytes tight robes. He had a look of creat concern in his eyes and then their eyes met. Rand...felt a deep ocean of energy. He had never felt anything like it before and the shock almost caused him to fall down the stairs. Nicholas caught him and kept him from falling.

Rand now out of breath said “The head wizard requires your presence out past the academy walls. There is a Gorgog and the wizards are not able to stop it. He told me to bring you immediately.” and then rand caught his breath and waited.

Nicholas did not move. He did close his eyes and then he did something Rand had never even heard of him doing, he spoke “Tell me about the Gorgog.” Rand for the second time today was caught bewildered. What does this non-magic person know about Deamons from beyond the veil? “Tell me.” Nicholas said again in a very even voice.

“The creature is huge and uses spirit energy to enhance its hide and claws. Basic magics do not seem to touch it and more advanced spells do little. The teachers called for the senior acolytes to assist and we were able to help push it back, however it persist on getting through the gates. Head Wizard Sotomayer went out with three of us and stopped it. But the three acolytes were injured. I am not sure if they are alive. Shortly after that he asked me to come find you. Nicholas nodded. “Lets go”.

The two ran through the academy and down its halls. Slowing down as they reached the gate, where most of the defenders were hiding behind the magic enhanced wall. “I brought him Head Wizard.” Nicholas walked over to the Head Wizard and spoke. “I have come as requested Jonathan, I understand that you are not able to defeat this creature from beyond the veil and wish to ask me for my help. I am here to freely give it.” The Head Wizard looked into Nicholas eyes, and some kind of thought passed between them. “You are free.” Said the Head Wizard.

Nicholas immediately to the rest of the Wizards standing behind the wall and said “you all need to leave now, please head back towards the academy. I will take care of this creature.” Then he hands started to move and he started to whisper. No one understood what he was doing but storm clouds started to gather around the area and Nicholas walked pasted the others and out into the road.

He walked directly up to the creature which it appeared the creature was not expecting. He looked down on him and in its daemonic voice said “Who art thou, who comes before the might Xentral second of all Gorgog’s .” This voice shook the walls and pillars and the voice that answered was nothing by comparison, “I am Nicholas of Hesperianous, guardian of this realm, and destroyer of creatures beyond the veil. I do not wish to destroy you Xentral and request that you leave.” The creature laughed a laugh that would shake the heavens. “No little one, I will destroy you as I have your friends!” With that the Gorgog attacked.

Nicholas kneeled down and pushed his hands into the earth. A bright light shined from them and when he pulled them out a sword came with them. It glowed of Psyonic power of a pale yellow. He raised the sword just in time to stop the claws of Xentral from cleaving him in two. Nicholas rolled to the creatures left and he took the sword in his left hand.

He swung the sword towards his right arm and where it touched a round shield appeared, but this light was a bright yellow and hard to look at. Nicholas then rushed towards the creature and pushed against its legs with the shield, and stabbed the sword into the side of it. But the creature pushed him away at the last second.

Nicholas hit the ground hard and the creatures foot stomped hard onto him. Nicholas was able to get his shield up in time and get it between himself and the massive hoof like foot of the Gorgog. The Gorgog pressed him down into the earth. Then it opened its mouth and a blue fire came from it and surrounded Nicholas.

An enormous burst of energy then enveloped the two combatants and when the burst ended the Gorgog was throw off its feet and into the ground. A smoldering hole was left in its wake. Nicholas emerged from it, his cloths burned away but his psyonic weapons still charged. Nicholas then stopped and kneeled, with this came the rain.

Many of us talked about this rain after the event and still we have a hard time describing it. It was perhaps the most cleansing event I had ever been apart of. After it fell on my cheeks, hope rose in my chest that we would all live through this attack.

The Gorgog did not have the same reaction, it went into a fervor. It got to it’s feet once again and charged at Nicholas who had also stood up and simply waited for the creature to get to him. Another burst of light as claw and sword met. Soon the Gorgog was cursing at him, trying everything it could do to gain advantage. No other of us had put up any kind of fight and now it was being beaten.

Then the Gorgog stumbled, it has not taken proper care of the wet terrain and lost its footing on a wet rock that had been uncovered during the battle. Nicholas did not hesitate and came in close with the Psyonic sword, stabbing the creature in the chest and then slicing it open. Its carapass split like a carved turkey and it crashed to the ground. As it fell it looked at Nicholas and said “The cycle will start again, chosen one. I will be back.”

The creature dissolved into the ground and is washed away from the rain. Nicholas walked back over to the group of Wizards and students and said to the Head Wizard “The creature is gone and I must rest.” He then walked naked in the rain back through the school.

The Wizards took charge and re-ordered everyone. “What did it mean that the cycle would start again?” Rand asked the Head Wizard. “ That is not something we will talk about...at least today. For now, simply enjoy that you are alive and that you have witnessed something that very few have seen.