Chapter 783: More Planning
Without a word, he stepped forward toward the iron bars of the stone prison. As the wind intensified around him, his body began to blur, and within an instant, he was gone—seemingly swallowed by the gust. The others watched in awe as the wind whistled gently through the cell, slipping past the bars with ease. Findir, or rather the wind-form he had taken on, slid effortlessly between the gaps of the heavy iron bars, passing through like a breeze through an open window.
In a blink, he reappeared on the other side, his figure solidifying as he took form once more. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he smirked and gave a small wave before vanishing into the shadows, his presence melting into nothing as if he had never been there at all. Orion, Cy, and the others waited in silence, their eyes fixed on the dimly lit corridor where Findir had disappeared.
Moments passed, and the sound of heavy troll footsteps echoed in the distance, but there was no sign of Findir. Just as they began to wonder if something had gone wrong, a faint breeze brushed past them once more. Out of the shadowy corner of the prison, Findir reappeared, his smile widening as he held up a large iron key, twirling it casually around his finger.
"Got it," he whispered with a mischievous glint in his eyes, flipping the key into his palm. "One of the guards was passing by. Never even saw me."
"Man, put that shit back," Orion scoffed.
"Huh? Isn’t this what you were implying?"
"Hell no! Put it back quickly, dumbass!" Orion shouted and within a few seconds, Findir returned back to the cell. "Sigh..."
"A-Anyways, what’s the plan?" Findir nervously chuckled.
"Okay... sit down first," Orion tapped the stone in front of him before Findir quickly sat before him. "So, it’s going to take a lot of brains. You have some in that skull of yours, right?"
Cy laughed under his breath, but Findir quickly took notice of this. "Cy, I don’t want you laughing with that big ass forehead of yours. That’s why you have bangs."
"Bro," Cy muttered, turning to Luna who just rolled her eyes. Aisa and Bella on the other hand were combing through Orion’s long hair with their fingers.
Orion leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he gestured for Findir to sit across from him. The rest of the group settled around, their expressions focused as they listened to what was clearly going to be a complicated plan.
"Alright, listen up," Orion began, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on Findir. "You’re going to sneak out of this prison again, but this time, your mission’s a bit more involved. You’re going to find the Orc camp nearby."
Findir raised an eyebrow. "The Orc camp? Why?"
"Orcs are stupid, right?" Orion said with a small smirk. "Well, most of the time. But we can’t rely on that anymore. If the Troll King is smarter than expected, we can’t assume their leader is a complete idiot either. That’s where you come in. You’ve got the skills to bluff your way in or sneak through, whichever works best. But don’t underestimate them."
Findir’s face twisted into a thoughtful expression, clearly processing the challenge ahead. Despite his playful demeanor, everyone knew he wasn’t just a pretty face. Findir may not have been the sharpest strategist, but he had a level of cunning that made him one of the more resourceful members of the group.
"You’re familiar with the fairy realm more than anyone here," Orion continued, "and I need you to use that knowledge. Whatever information you can gather about the orcs’ dealings with the trolls, use it. Bluff them into thinking you know more than you do if necessary."
Findir nodded, his usual cocky smile fading as he considered the seriousness of the task.
"But the main goal?" Orion’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous intensity. "You need to instigate an attack. You’ve got to get the Orcs riled up enough to launch a full-scale assault on this mountain. Whether it’s playing on their hatred for trolls or creating a fake alliance, I don’t care how you do it—just make sure they storm this place."
Findir’s eyes flickered with excitement as he absorbed the weight of his mission. "Got it. Sneak in, cause chaos, and bring the orcs down on the trolls. Sounds fun."
"Fun?" Orion raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "It’s dangerous as hell, that’s what it is. But I trust you to handle it. Just don’t get too cocky. Orcs may not be as smart as us, but that doesn’t mean they’re pushovers."
Findir chuckled nervously, his confidence returning. "I’ll be fine. I’ll make it back in one piece."
"Good," Orion said, leaning back. "And remember—this whole thing hinges on you. If you fail, we’ll be back to square one, and I’m not exactly fond of that idea."
Cy, who had been quietly listening, suddenly muttered under his breath, "No pressure or anything."
Findir shot him a look. "Don’t worry about me. Worry about keeping that fatass forehead of yours hidden."
Cy opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word out, Luna swiftly wrapped her hand around his mouth, silencing him. Without a word, she shot him a sharp glare and began dragging him away from the group, her expression clearly saying, not now. Cy struggled slightly, trying to protest, but Luna’s grip was firm, and with a final exasperated roll of her eyes, she led him to the far side of the cell to avoid any further confrontation.
Aisa and Bella, on the other hand, continued to absentmindedly comb through Orion’s long hair, entirely unbothered by the tension in the air.
Orion leaned back, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the cold stone floor as he addressed the group. His voice was calm, but beneath it was a subtle excitement. "Alright, here’s why this plan is worth the risk," he began, glancing at each of them in turn. "If we manage to set the orcs and trolls against each other, we’re looking at rewards from either side."
He shifted slightly, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "Let’s say the orcs win. We swoop in after the battle, claim credit for sparking their victory, and we’ll be heroes in their eyes. Orcs aren’t known for their brains, but they respect cunning and strength. If they see us as allies, we’ll have access to whatever spoils they pull from the trolls’ fortress—gold, magical relics, enchanted weapons, things they don’t even understand the value of. We could get supplies, resources, or even manpower for whatever we plan next."
Orion paused for a moment, his voice lowering as he continued, "Now, on the other hand, if the trolls fend off the orcs, they’ll still be weakened. Trolls value raw power, and if we approach them at the right time—offering help or information—we could gain their favor. And trolls, unlike orcs, hoard more than just treasure. They’ve got rare magical items, artifacts, things most people wouldn’t dream of getting their hands on. If we play our cards right, they might share some of that in exchange for our help."
He leaned forward, his tone taking on a sharp edge. "Either way, we win. Whether it’s the trolls or the orcs that come out on top, we’re positioned to benefit. Wealth, influence, and powerful allies on either side of this war—and maybe even a chance to snag a few legendary items for ourselves. The real trick is making sure neither side sees us as a threat."
A smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "So, if this works, we’ll be walking out of here with a lot more than our freedom."
As Orion finished outlining the rewards, a soft rustling sound drew the group’s attention. A sleek, muscular leopard padded silently into view, its golden eyes locked onto Findir. The creature moved with predatory grace, its spotted coat gleaming faintly in the dim light as it began to circle him. Its tail flicked rhythmically, muscles rippling beneath its fur as it kept its gaze fixed on Findir.
Not far behind, the elf from the night before approached, his movements as smooth and deliberate as his companion’s. His long black hair hung loosely around his sharp features, and his piercing red eyes glinted with something between curiosity and malice. He didn’t say a word, his intense gaze never leaving Findir as he came to a stop a few paces away, watching the leopard complete its quiet circuit.
The elf’s presence alone was enough to send a chill through the air, though Findir remained still, meeting the elf’s stare with his own steady resolve. The rest of the group tensed slightly, instinctively aware of the unspoken tension between the elf and Findir. The elf’s hand rested casually at his side, but the way his fingers flexed slightly made it clear he wasn’t here for idle conversation.
"Take my partner with you," The elf suggested.
