Interlude - Alice

Alice finally got away from those incessant women, Melody and Ann. They would just not leave her alone to explore. It was so infuriating, so much so, that she wanted to play her fun games with the old woman. But no, Alice was a good girl, and every game had its rules.

She had snuck out of the compound to go explore. The people inside the compound were boring, no quiet dark place to play in, everything was far too well-lit, and all she could sense was the constant feeling of confusion and loss, not fun emotions at all.

That is why she was in this forest. She overheard her new daddy saying he would go meet with the new goblins. She found those creatures far more entertaining than the boring adults back at the compound.

That was when she encountered two goblins out on patrol. “Hey, look a huemon that is more our size.” The one on the left said as he pointed his spear at Alice.

The goblin on the right smiled wickedly as he spoke. “Let’s have some fun with her before we bring her back. She’s no goblin woman but she will do!”

Alice smiled. “Are you two saying you want to play with me?”

The goblin on the left dropped his spear and drew his small dagger and gave his own evil smile. “Yes, we are going to play with you plenty. If you get out of line, I’ll use my knife here to teach you a lesson.”

Alice giggled. “He, he, he, he, he. That’s not a knife. This is a knife.” As Alice said the last part, she drew one of her special soul blades which was clearly longer and glowing a mix of spectral blue and ethereal green.

“Uhhh, maybe we should run.” The goblin on the right said as he started to back away.

“So, what if she has a weapon. She is a little girl. Let’s have some fun. I get first...” the goblin on the left didn’t get a chance to finish his words as he was lifted by the head and slammed against a tree.

The goblin on the right startled at the sudden appearance of a giant monster of a man in some tall hat and long coat, tried to make a run for it. As he took a step, he found his legs giving out for some reason, then felt immense pain, and he flopped to the ground.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Alice knelt as she stabbed her blade into the goblin’s shoulder. “Silly goblin. My friend distracted you, but I’m the one you both wanted to play with.”

“Please, please...” the goblin begged.

Blade still imbedded in the goblin’s shoulder; Alice clapped. “Oh goodie! I do love it when they beg to join me for all eternity, so we can all play together forever. He, he, he.”

In one swift motion Alice withdrew her blade and slit it across the goblin’s throat. She stood and walked over to the other goblin who interrupted her exploration. It was clear the goblin was still dazed from having its head slammed into a tree.

The dazed goblin was sitting up against the tree he had been slammed into.

“I know just what to do to help you wake up.” Alice said as she materialized a second blade and stabbed both blades into the goblin’s shoulders, pinned the goblin to the tree.

The mind fog of his head getting slammed into a tree cleared instantly, replaced by searing pain that he felt down into his very soul.

“AAAHHHHH!!!!”

“Now you were being very bad. Your screams are an improvement, but I’m not sure you’re really getting into the game.” Alice lamented.

The goblin pinned to the tree started to sob. “I-I am, am, so, so, sorry. Please it hurts!”

Alice clapped. “Now that’s better. You’re starting to get into it now. Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon, and then you can join the others.”

Another quick motion and Alice removed the blades and sliced the goblin’s legs, preventing him from running away. She then cut the goblin’s armor and began to carve runes into his flesh. After she was done, she repeated the process on the other goblin corpse.

After two casts of her magic, Alice had two new Soul-Forged Minions. She sent them into her soul-space and continued her trek through the forest. As she walked, Alice cast her magic to remove any blood splatter on her clothes.

Several minutes later Alice reached the Sleeping Willow camp. She hid in the bushes and watched.

‘Oh goodie, new daddy has just arrived.’ Alice thought.

Then Shadowalker activated his Dark Mantle ability and Alice became extremely excited. She loved every moment of it washing over her. The pure joy she felt made her lean against a tree as she took it all in.

Then the aura was reined in, and Alice immediately felt the absence of the warm sensation. She had to have more. A part of her wanted to run out and ask Shadowalker to let go, but she was too weak in the knees to move.

As Alice looked out on the camp, she saw every goblin cowering in fear and utter horror. It made no sense to her why anyone would react that way. Then most of the goblins got on their hands and knees in supplication, and Alice agreed that such a response was appropriate, far better than their initial reaction.

With Shadowalker once again holding back his power, Alice felt it was time to go. “They are just going to do a bunch of boring talking. I saw what I came to see. Time to go back before those two annoying adults get too worried and cause a fuss. Soon I won’t have to care about such adults, it’s just not time yet my friend, but soon. I can feel it.” Alice said to her dolly.

Alice cocked her head to the side like she was listening to something. “What was that? Oh, you think we should find some more naughty goblins on the way back. Yes, that’s a great idea.” Alice said as she held her dolly.