~About a year ago, somewhere in the Lost Forest... ~
Nimrod and Rachel tried to get away from Andred in Djinn form, but due to the Slow spell, they were unable to escape. Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a giant appeared, slamming its fist into the ground. After the massive earthquake that this ground-shattering punch caused, everything went black.
After a while of being out of it, Nimrod started regaining consciousness and had quite a lot on his utterly confused mind.
Nimrod: {That giant must have killed Rachel and the djinn in one swoop. There's no way anyone could have survived that! Wait... Am I dead too? That would explain a lot... And... that would mean that I could finally see them again-- I could see--} – his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a bucket of cold water.
Nimrod: What the...? Great... Looks like I'm still alive... - something he didn't seem to be exactly thrilled about.
Ninja Leader: That is true... For now.
Nimrod was tied to a chair. Four ninjas were in front of him. By the looks of them, they would have each been able to murder him in his sleep. The fact that he was still alive meant that they wanted something of him.
Nimrod: What is it you want with me? And where the hell is this dump?
Ninja Leader: We saw the unparalleled devastation you caused to our Forest. When we heard and felt the earthquake, my scouts were sent to investigate. The Lost Forest is under the Shadow Clan's protection. Anyone who disrupts its peace shall be severely punished. This is well known.
Nimrod: Look, I understand how you'd get the wrong idea when you see me rocking this bad-boy look... But the truth is… I'm innocent! I didn't touch your Forest... It was actually a giant...
One of the ninjas that entered with the clan leader started punching him until he knocked him over with the chair he was tied to.
Despite knocking him over and him being weak and disoriented, those punches didn't actually do anything to Nimrod.
Nimrod: I get it... You guys are just a bunch of savages! Scumbags! Just wait till I get out of these ropes... – he was straining while making an effort to bust loose from the ropes binding him. He realized they were sturdier than the average rope he was accustomed to.
Ninja Leader: Tell me. How did you do it? If you speak truthfully, I promise to make your death painless.
Nimrod: Didn't you hear what I said? I said it wasn't me! It was a giant! He came out of nowhere! I couldn't care less about your stupid forest! Are you that dense?
Ninja Leader: Perhaps we continue our conversation later... when you decide you are ready to tell the truth. Until then, please enjoy your stay.
They all left his cell and shut the door behind them.
Nimrod: {Just great... These idiots think I banged up their forest. Wait a minute... What about that dumb Knight Richard? He didn't even show up to help Rachel! He's probably the one who gave me up to these clowns! I bet he's in some tavern sipping some tea, just laughing at me...}
~Several days later~
The four ninjas entered the room again, asked some questions, gave him a beating, and left. They gave him just enough water so he wouldn't dehydrate and, on rare occasions, some food. Nimrod could take any beating they could dish out, of course. But spending so much time in captivity was wearing him out.
About three months after being captured, he was in his little dungeon one day. There were two ninjas guarding the door to his cell at all times. He started to hear some unusual movement.
Guard 1: What is that?
Guard 2: No matter, all intruders must be subdued!
Familiar voice: Ah, where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself!
Never mind... You two are about to die anyway.
When Nimrod heard that voice, he felt a chill up his spine and thought to himself:
Nimrod: {My luck just keeps getting better and better... I know that wretched voice!}
Nimrod listened as a short battle ensued. One body hit the ground. There were shouts... Shurikens were thrown... A blade was swung. The other guard's body went flying through the door and landed lifeless next to Nimrod. He had claw marks all over his body.
Andred: Heya, friend. Did you miss me? - Andred was in his djinn form. Nimrod was hoping to be able to forget that ugly face, but he couldn't. He regularly had nightmares about him. This time the nightmare came true.
Nimrod: Why the hell are you here? Do me a favor and be a delusion, will ya? I haven't the strength to deal with any more problems right now...
Andred: Hahahahaha! From the moment I met you, I've been quite fond of you, Nimrod. But I cannot forgive deception.
Nimrod: How'd you survive the giant, huh? You gotta tell me your secret... I was sure it had gotten all of you, even Rachel and that baby...
Andred: Ah, yes... I was going to ask you for her whereabouts before I killed you... But it seems you're even more clueless than I am!
Nimrod didn't know whether or not to believe that... if he wasn't trying to deceive him, it would mean that Rachel was still alive.
For some reason, Djinns could only move and act within a certain radius. Suppose he could get his hands on a powerful White wizard and consume her essence of divinity. In that case, he could widen his action radius considerably... and if the wizard were powerful enough, it would grant him the freedom to roam the entire world. This is why he was after Rachel. Her essence of divinity was a lot stronger than in most White mages.
Andred: Whelp... let's continue where we left off. You know… it took me forever to find this place. I'll make you suffer extra for the psychological damage you caused me...
Nimrod: You've got to be kidding me...
Andred began chanting in a strange language... Nimrod knew he was about to cast Slow.
But while the djinn was chanting, a smoke bomb was thrown into the room. When it went off, several shurikens followed. None of them hit Andred, though.
Andred: He, he, he... You missed. I thought you ninjas were supposed to have good aim...
Ninja: Miss-directed you, yes. My target was another. Miss-directed... Heh, heh... good pun, huh?
The shurikens had cut the ropes binding Nimrod.
Ninja: On behalf of the Shadow clan, please accept our sincerest apologies for the terrible misunderstanding. If it's any consolation, at least you got to hear my greatest puns.
Nimrod: You're kidding, right? I thought those puns were part of the torture... And I couldn't tell you guys apart anyway... you all look the same with those masks! I'll sue you bastards for the last gold coin!
While Nimrod was talking, Andred pounced at the ninja throwing the shurikens to free Nimrod. He went at him with all his claws and was certain to have hit him, but what he thought to have been the ninja was only an after-image.
Andred: What is this? Oh... I understand... You're very fast... I have a remedy for that!
Ultimate Slow!
Nimrod was able to fly the ninja out of harm's way, so both of them dodged the spell. Right after that, a ball found its way into the room through one of the cracks, following an impossible curve trajectory and hitting Andred from behind. It was a Bolt skeen (**item that ninjas often throw containing elemental powers. In this case, a lightning bolt**)
Andred: That hurt!
A female ninja was approaching. As she walked toward Andred, he started shaking in fear.
Andred: W-what are you doing here? I didn't hear you come in! T-t-that's not p-possible!
Nimrod was confused as to why Andred was suddenly acting so afraid. It just so happened that Andred saw the giant that attacked him before (in other words, he saw Kohrr in his giant form). The female ninja created the illusion, but Andred was the only one who saw it.
Andred: I'll stop you! Literally!
Ever-flowing river of time... Obey my will and grant me the advantage... STOP!!!
The Time magic spell known as Stop was supposed to stop time for the target it afflicted. It had no effect on an illusion, though.
Andred: This can't be... – Andred said as he quaked in his boots.
While he was taken by fear, the other two ninjas moved in from opposite sides and swung their blades simultaneously, slicing him in four. Andred the djinn was finally defeated.
Nimrod: Whew! Good riddance! So you guys are the real deal, huh?
The three ninjas put away their weapons and stood silently until the one that had spoken before opened his mouth again.
Ninja: We definitely are! And I don't appreciate your lack of a funny bone... laughter makes everything better! Just ask these guys... they laugh at all my amazing jokes.
Female ninja: Stop, Eiji... you're not as funny as you think.
Ninja: Ahhh... but I am funny... There you go! You just proved my point, Shadow!
The female ninja rolled her eyes. Nimrod was looking at them with a mixture of confusion and second-hand embarrassment.
The ninja Leader came by shortly after, a woman who seemed to be in her early thirties. Just like the others, she always had her face partially covered by a mask. Nimrod thought she was actually scary, even though she was a beautiful woman.
Ninja Leader: They're the Big three... and they're also this village's elite defenders. Shinto, Eiji, and Shadow. I trust them with my life - Nimrod could tell she was telling the truth. The way how they were able to fight in such coordination together without uttering a single word could only mean that all of them had complete trust in each other... and a long history together.
Shinto: Leader! - he seemed to have something important to say.
Ninja Leader: What is it, Shinto?
Shinto: Please, marry me!
The other two ninjas facepalmed pretty hard. He was being so serious that he actually expected to receive a reply. The Leader ignored him. It looked like this was a pretty common occurrence (him asking the Leader to marry him, that is).
The ninja Leader then addressed Nimrod.
Ninja Leader: I see we were wrong about you. Shinto heard your conversation with the djinn that was hunting you.
Nimrod: Well, you can nurse me back to health if you're sorry... After that, there's someone I need you to help me find...