"What am I doing? I should just kill them and save myself the trouble," Thorian muttered to himself as he sat next to a tree, contemplating his decision. His course of action should have been clear: eliminate the two humans and avoid any future trouble they might bring. However, their understanding of his language threw his mind into disarray. If they could not understand him, then communication would have been impossible. Without communication, there would be no possibility of understanding or exchange.

I wish I hadn't said a word. It would have made things much easier.

Thorian glanced to the side and noticed the old man's axe lying on a patch of grass next to him. His eyes locked onto the axe, seemingly mesmerized. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and a grin spread across his face as an idea struck him like lightning in a glass bottle.

Killing them would be a waste when I could use them to my benefit.

With a determined stride, he stood, grabbed the axe, and approached the two humans. The old man was comforting the sobbing little boy with whispers and gentle embraces.

"You have a choice," Thorian said, his eyes filled with malice. "One of you will die; the other will live. You choose."

He tossed the axe to the old man, who caught it clumsily. The man's terror-filled eyes mirrored the young boy's as his arm shook, clutching the axe.

"Human?" The question came from the side. Thorian turned to find the kobold glaring at the old man and the young child.

Just as the monster was about to take action, Thorian shouted, "Stop!"

The kobold looked at Thorian in confusion. "Human, kill?"

"No one is to touch them for now," Thorian said, taking a deep breath. "Not until I give the order."

The small pack of kobloids stared in confusion and interest at the pair, but they all stepped aside as the large kobold led them away with disgruntled growls.

With the kobloids no longer posing an immediate threat, Thorian's attention shifted back to the two humans. His plan hinged on their next move.

"I'm sorry," the old man said, tears streaming down his face as he gently touched the little boy's cheek. "I'm so sorry, Lil Roo."

The boy, Roo, looked at the old man, his expression frozen and his mouth agape. "Grampa?"

But the old man didn't answer. He could only cry and sob, the axe trembling in his hand.

"Grampa, please!" Roo's face twisted in anguish as his emotions overwhelmed him. His once innocent eyes were now filled with terror, his pupils dilating rapidly as if seeking escape from the unfolding nightmare. His lower lip quivered uncontrollably, betraying his fear and vulnerability.

Desperate to avoid the reality in front of him, Roo turned his head and closed his eyes. Thorian, however, watched the old man intently.

Fighting his weakness and fragility, the old man's face contorted with a mix of emotions. Fear turned to sadness, then to anger and rage. With a scream, he raised the axe high before swinging it toward his own neck.

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"Good," Thorian gripped the old man's forearm firmly, stopping the axe's descent. "You shall live... both of you."

The old man stared at Thorian, incredulous, a nervous chuckle escaping his throat before he was overcome by hiccups. As the reality of the situation settled in, he collapsed to his knees, sobbing.

Young Roo opened his eyes and, seeing his grandfather crying, also began to weep.

While the scene might have warmed the coldest of hearts, Thorian had neither the time nor the inclination to appreciate it.

"However, there is one condition."

Thorian’s words were like a bucket of cold water, causing the old man to stifle his tears and look up at him in terror. His shaking stopped, and his body stiffened.

"I need you to go back to the city and bring me sixteen axes. I don't care if you buy them or steal them, I just want them in three hours."

Thorian placed his hand on young Roo's shoulder. Though the boy tried to jerk away, Thorian held him tightly in place, looking at the old man with cold eyes.

"The kid will stay here. If you don't return in time, I will kill him. If you don't bring all sixteen axes, I will kill him." He then smirked at the old man's terror-stricken face before conjuring a fireball in his free hand. "If you bring soldiers with you, I will kill him, kill you, and annihilate all the soldiers. Do not dare test my patience."

The old man stared at Thorian in shock before rapidly nodding his head. "Yes, I will bring them to you. Please don't hurt little Roo."

"You have my word," Thorian said, his expression neutral. "As long as you keep your own."

Thorian deactivated his spell, and the old man hurried away from the group of monsters. He stole a few glances back at his grandson before running with all his might.

After the man disappeared among the trees, Thorian looked down at the sobbing child. Roo had brown hair and brown eyes, an unremarkable appearance for this country. Tears streamed down his face, but Thorian couldn't blame him. No child in the world would have reacted differently.

"Roo," Thorian said, startling the tears from the boy's face. He immediately looked up, trying to control his shaking hands, though his lips still quivered.

"Let me show you the kind of world you will grow up in, the kind of world you will need to face."

Thorian turned and walked toward his group of kobloids, chuckling as he gestured at the lead kobold. "How does it feel? Getting some experience after so long?"

Though the monster initially wore a sour expression, it quickly turned into a grin. "Good."

"I'm glad to hear that," Thorian nodded, surveying the rest of the kobloids. Their excitement was palpable, and they seemed confident in their growth.

"Everyone, what do you say we find more of those goblins?" Thorian exclaimed. "Fight them, kill them, and grow strong!"

"Grow strong!" The kobloids laughed and cheered, chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

"Good, you're truly worthy to be my men," Thorian said, smiling and nodding in acknowledgment before issuing his next command. "I want you all to search this whole area. Find those green monsters and come back. Do not fight them; just observe their location and report back. Understood?"

The kobloids' excitement tempered slightly at Thorian's change in tone, but they replied, "Understood."

As his group dispersed in all directions, Thorian was left alone with the young boy. Roo sat on the grass, his head buried deep within his arms as he rocked back and forth.

Seeing this reaction, Thorian shrugged. There was no need for further conversation, and it was better this way. Both of them would be left to their own thoughts.

As Thorian studied the child, he couldn't help but recall the families of foxes he had slaughtered or the pack of wolves he had killed. There had been young pups among them too.

This is just an exchange; their survival or death is meaningless in the grand scheme. They are just more useful right now.

Minutes passed quickly as Thorian questioned his own decisions again and again before a rustling grabbed his attention. One of the kobloids came back with a happy expression on his face.

“Monster green! Many!”

Those words, primitive as they were, sounded like a magical spell for Thorian as his lips parted in a grin.