It was a nice day. The sun warmed his body while he watched the sheep graze on the distant hillside. Horses also grazed nearby. Three magnificent ones that belonged to the Halfling merchant having brunch with his parents inside their home. Yesterday, the merchant appeared with three horses in tow and an entire cart filled with cheeses and wine from the neighboring kingdom. It was a lovely day but a strange morning. He sat on the rock where he played his chaencorde, a gift from his uncle. He strummed the strings while he blew into the instrument's opening to make the strange thing hum a beautiful note. He closed his eyes as his fingers danced on the strings while his lips softly blew into the long, brass tube of the instrument. He wasn't as good as his uncle, but he could finally change the pitch of the sound by using the strings. But as he picked and strummed the chaencorde, he heard something from the distance.

He stopped everything that he was doing as he looked up at the sky. For a moment, all was silent. Suddenly, winds blew hard against his face as a boom shook everything. He strained. Something bright flashed near the mountain. As he struggled to not fall flat on his back from the force of the wind, he saw a golden shape that shot up into the skies from the forest. The large form flew higher and higher. It left a trail of light behind it as it flew towards the mountains. A roar followed the blast of wind, a terrible roar that made the sheep scatter all over the hillside. A moment passed. Just a short moment as he breathed heavily. Then, like the shape he just saw, he shot up quickly to his feet as he thought of the merchant's horses. He was ready to dash for the house when he saw them. They were calm. They continued to graze on the grass as if nothing happened.

With a sigh, he sat back down and scratched his head. He picked up the chaencorde from the ground and just stared at the forest.

It really was a strange day.

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"Don't eat that!"

"Why?"

Semilia pulled the berry away from his hand.

"It's aileberries. Makes ya' dizzy and lose your way in a forest. If you eat its seeds, that is."

The Low-Elf squeezed the berry and a bluish core or seed popped out from the berry and fell on the ground. Semilia smiled and popped the crushed berry into her mouth.

"Bleh! Why does it taste like that?"

"Aileberries are bitter here. The aileberries in the western part of the continent are the strange ones."

Riel spoke with a soft tone as she followed closely behind him.

"Really? I wonder why."

He hacked at a branch as he spat out the aileberry's core onto the ground. Licking the seed made his tongue tingle and it made him feel weird in the head. It was something Goblins like to do once in a while.

"Aileberries, huh? I met an Apothecary once. He used poisons to cure other poisons and maladies. One of my quests was to fetch him a bottle of Manticore poison and the blood of a Troll and a barrel full of Aileberry seeds to make some kind of health potion. A bottle of that potion still sits in a vault in the Capital."

Stefan said as he felled a few small trees in their path.

"Why did you put it in a vault?"

"I used it once on a friend after he got gnarled by a bear. A drop of the potion healed most of his wounds and even regrew his eye. Someday, I'd sell or use it, that's all. When I really need the money, that is."

Stefan chuckled as he slashed down and cut a small yet stiff birch tree.

"Anyway, stop eating random berries in the woods and help me clear a path! My sword's getting dull with all this hacking."

"Hmm. Path looked clear earlier. But..."

Sirius stretched his arm to the side to stop Riel from walking into the thornbush in front of them.

"The forest thick. Thick with bush and trees."

Sirius sighed as he tried to find a clear path through the damned forest.

While Stefan trudged through the thick undergrowth and Semilia stepped and trampled on knee-high plants and shrubs, he found a clearing just a stone's throw away from them. He stood at the tip of his toes and saw that the undergrowth ahead grew thinner just ahead. Just around the trees was a trail, made by boars based on the smell. He signaled to Stefan to follow him as he made his way through some trees towards the trail. His clothes snagged on the bushes and the branches and he slashed and hacked at the wood and leaves with his dagger. Finally, he stepped onto the trail and shook off the leaves on his clothes. Riel and Semilia followed after him, the Low-Elf's green hair was covered with orange leaves while Riel's face had a scratch on her right cheek.

"At least this part of the forest is more... spacious."

"Are you really sure we took the right fucking path earlier? Or is that part of the forest just a pain in the ass?"

"Probably the latter."

The four of them looked around the forest, more annoyed than confused at their surroundings.

It wasn't as bad as the forest where he once lived. One wrong misstep could land a Goblin into the many dangers of the forest like deep mud pits and the black bogs filled with poisonous waters. This forest was peaceful. Safer. Devoid of monsters that could wipe out entire tribes if left alone. But he didn't really like living in the middle of the forest. Or any forest for that matter. His hand moved towards the itch at his shoulder. As he scratched the spot on his shoulder, he felt something. Something wet. He looked and saw blood. A low grumble left his mouth as he wiped off the blood on his pants and clutched his shoulder. Something must've cut him earlier. A plant, maybe. He shrugged off the slight pain and continued to move forward through the forest.

Sniff. Sniff. He tried to pick up the trail of the boars, but they have begun to fade at this point. Yet he continued to move through the trees and with his eyes and that feeling in his gut, he led them through the unfamiliar forest. After a while, he spotted what seemed to be a clearing. It was a small area. There were stumps all around as well as a pile of logs, neatly stacked and ready to be hauled. He could tell that the foot of the mountains was still far, but he was not sure just how far. He looked around to see if there was anyone but he only saw a rusty axe planted into one of the stumps nearby. In fact, the logs looked like they had been left out for a week or two. He stepped into the clearing first, making sure that there really was no one around to ask for directions.

"Pine. No. Not just any pine trees... Emberis Pine! Good for firewood, not for furniture."

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Stefan said as he looked around the clearing.

"That's a pretty rare species, especially this far east in Illyrica."

Said Riel as she sat down on one of the stumps.

"My father hates this kind of tree. Says they're as useful as a broken twig when it comes to making things out of them. They're also a big pain in the ass when toom any grows in the same area."

"Of course. They rely on being set aflame to release their seeds. Their dry wood helps with that, but it also makes them fragile things. But I did hear that they are excellent materials when it comes to staffs made for Pyromancers."

"You misheard, Stefan. They are cheap materials for such staves, but will be set aflame when higher tier spells are channeled through them."

Said Riel with a slightly miffed tone.

"My first staff was one made of this kind of wood. It lasted a month before it was consumed in a [Flame Pillar] Spell. It channeled flame too well, I suppose."

"Hrr. Tribe used it to set traps. Could cut off entire place with flame and make big fire and quick."

He chimed into the conversation with a little fact of his own.

"Not the first time I heard of such a tactic. Goblin tribes up north also used Emberis Pine like that."

"Hmm. But tribe from home use it to make bombs. Cone could explode if set on fire then seeds cut things."

All three fell silent at his words while he simply took a quick swig of the water in his canteen.

"... Speaking of things that cut, you have one on your shoulder."

Semilia said as she pulled something out of her bag.

"C'mere. Let's patch that up."

"I-It's good. No nee-"

"Goblin, come here and shut up."

At those words, Sirius trudged forward and sat on the ground while Semilia sat on the stump.

Her hands pulled his bloody cloak to the side, revealing a small gash on his shoulder. Semilia quickly poured water over it and she pulled out a Health Potion and a bandage from her bag. She clicked her tongue as she pulled out a thorn from the gash before she poured a drop of the Health Potion over the wound. He hissed at the slight pain in his shoulder but he did not move. Semilia quickly wrapped the bandage around his shoulder. She moved quickly. It was as if she had done this countless times before. After half a minute, she was done and he had a neatly tied and tight bandage wrapped around his shoulder. He was about to poke at the bandage when Semilia swatted his hand away from it.

"You're just like Stefan! Look, if you get hurt again just tell me."

"That's uncalled for but ok. Anyway, should we get going now?"

Stefan sighed as he pulled out the rusty axe from its stump.

"A bit too heavy on the front end but... It would do!"

Stefan smiled as he swung at the empty air in front of him.

"Sirius, I'll take the lead."

Stefan said as he patted his shoulder.

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Whatever low-lying plants, vines, or branches that stood on their path were quickly decimated as Stefan cut a path of destruction through the forest. The three of them walked far behind him. The Swordsman made easy work of the branches with his axe as they made their way down the mountain. They continued like this for an hour, at one point Stefan had to fell a tree just so they could cross a deep ditch. Of course, they could've gone around the outcrop of rock and took a long way around but Stefan already cut down a tree in just five strokes before they were able to decide on something. It was a peaceful hike down the mountain with Stefan at the lead of their group. Peaceful since no creature dared to cross their path. After a few more hours, the trees began to thin out and they were now out of the forest and at the bottom of the mountain. There was a stream beside them, the one that they started to follow halfway down the mountains and he drank from it while Stefan took a look around.

A small village just in the distance could be seen from where they stood. It was nestled on top of a few little hills and mounds. There were large flocks of sheep everywhere and there was a large hall built on one of the larger hills. It might look like a defenseless village due to the lack of walls or defenses, but he could tell that it would be a formidable challenge for a Goblin tribe. The small buildings could be easily held and defended due to the defenders holding the high ground. The hall built on the large hill at the center of the village could easily spot attackers from a distance and it would probably be the most defensible building in the entire village due to the low walls, thick doors, and the steepness of the hill. But he wasn't here to raid a village. And he didn't like raiding villages since there was a very real chance of being killed during a raid.

"That's Treville, huh? It's small for a village under the rule of a Dragon."

Said Stefan while he nodded to himself.

"It's a bad place to build a village. Sure, there're a few streams nearby but by the looks of it, the soil's bad and rocky."

"Well, isn't that why the hillsides are filled with pastures full of sheep and cattle?"

Semilia stood up and stretched her arms.

"A Dragon doesn't want a fucking salad. Draukr probably built this village so that he'd have a source of dinner."

"You have a point there."

Said Stefan as he scratched the back of his head.

"Done drinking."

He said with a slightly satisfied smile.

"Stefan, can you carry these for me?"

"Hmm? Oh sure. What are they?"

Riel smiled at Stefan's question.

"Pebbles. Excellent ones, good for spells and enchantments."

"Ah. No wonder they're as heavy as... rocks. Sure, I can keep them on me."

"Thank you."

Stefan placed the large pouch into his bag while Riel picked up her staff.

They approached a small cottage on the outskirts of the village. Riel panted while the three of them took a breather at the top of the small hill they had to climb. There was a small cottage at the top, with a wagon beside it. The door of the house lay wide open and no sound came from within the rustic cottage. A sound in the distance made his ear twitch. He looked east with narrowed eyes and saw shapes on the next hill. Two children raced around the hill chasing after a blurry white sheep and the other two chased a larger white shape as it darted from one spot to another. Shouting could be heard even from where they stood. Riel glanced up at Stefan with a bewildered look in her eyes while Semilia, whose keen eyes could clearly see what is happening even from afar, grinned while her shoulders trembled slightly. Stefan nudged her at the side and shook his head slowly while she struggled to stifle her laughter. A heavy sigh left her lips as he placed his fingers on his lip and whistled.

"Ohhhh shit! The Halfling got fucking rammed by a sheep!"

"Shut it, Sem!"

Stefan ran forward after he said those words.

"Riel, stay here and watch for any stranglers. Semilia and Sirius, go chase the sheep!"

The three of them ran down the side of the hill. Stefan covered ground with his long strides while Semilia dashed through the grassy hillside effortlessly while he had to run on all fours to keep up with the two of them. There were no shadows around to jump to and running on two legs is out of the question. He watched as Stefan easily vaulted over the stone wall while Semilia simply leapt over it as she fiddled with an arrow. A sheep bleat as it saw them and it tried to run to the opposite direction only for Semilia to loose an arrow at the creature. It flew past its head and the sheep founds itself entangled with the rope attached to the arrow. Stefan dashed towards a horse as it approached him. The majestic animal of white did not even put up a struggle as Stefan slung himself over its back and mounted it. In fact, it seemed as if it let him mount it easily. With a click of his tongue, he steered the horse to the left and towards the four people now running towards them.

Four people approached. A man and a woman with their child, and what seems to be an Oboit, or a Halfling or Hobbit, ran towards them. The child-man, as Goblins called them, was dressed in simple yet precious cloths. He had a puffy hat on with a feather sticking out of the ridiculous thing but he noticed something wrong with his garments. Red. His mostly blue and yellow outfit had a large red spot on it. In fact, all four of them wore red. As he stared at the four, something crested the top of the hill. A sheep. A red sheep. One that reeked of blood and filth. Then, the sheep that tried to escape whatever bathed it in blood was crushed beneath a club. Stefan's horse reared as two horses jumped over the top of the hill in a frenzy of fear as a hand tried to reach for the two.

"Stefan, what the fuck is that?!"

"An Ogre. From the mountains."

Stefan said with a scowl on his face.

"A-Adventurers? The ones that Lord Draukr bestowed the horses to?"

The Halfling said as he fell to the ground beside him while Stefan caught the woman as she tripped.

"Uh-huh. Tell him that we are thankful for the horse- Move!"

Stefan shoved both the woman and the Halfling away while Semilia lunged for the man and child. A moment later, the battered body of a sheep flew past them. Dirt and grass flew everywhere as the sheep landed just behind them with a wet yet solid thud. A shadow loomed over them as the fat figure stood atop the hill with a bloody club in hand. Its yellow eyes with slits for irises locked onto the three of them as its lips folded back to reveal yellowed tusks and rotted teeth in its stinking maw. The greenish-brown skin of the Ogre was covered with scabs and filth, a sight that made his spine shiver. Stefan clicked his tongue and dismounted as the Ogre stared them down while Semilia readied an arrow in her bow. He was about to unsheathe his dagger when his nose picked up a scent. A similar scent. But...

"Semilia!"