Seras, Adil and the three guards walked past a crowd of bustling people to reach a ladder stuck into the side of the library which they climbed on their way to the library's roof.

Arriving at the new guard post they saw the fancily dressed man talking with another over a piece of paper.

"Seras. I have been told you went on a goblin hunt." He said.

"I went with an associate to push back recent goblin activity within the maze. This led to us taking down the source of the corruption that attacked the town last night, Sir."

head in the post turned towards Seras, their expressions held looks of either intrigue, scepticism, acknowledgement of an expected outcome or even amazement. The high ranking official turned to the lieutenant and began whispering something.

"Is she uh, really capable of doing something like that."

"Sir, this is Seras, the one that did the 'you know what'."

"With its own intestines, that was real?"

he turned back to Seras. "Well, captain. I'm glad your trip was fruitful. But I have to ask, how you went about doing this."

Seras turned to Adil, he gave a shrug again, it seemed as though he wouldn't give any helpful input.

"We had an associate with control over fire. Using his abilities we were able to destroy the scourge at its source. This involved incinerating a creature at the source which seemed to be controlling the corruption through a sort of hive mind."

"That is quite the accomplishment, and is that fire mage with you right now."

"No sir, he, unfortunately, did not make it, but my associate lightning mage is currently present."

"Interesting, interesting. Would this associate mind showing a display of their lightning magic," he said.

Adil stepped forward, which alone seemed to give the official a shock, he then held out both his arms and began focusing on the all too familiar feeling of mana running through him. Then turning it into his desired element he generated forks of lightning between his hands.

"By the beyond." Said the lieutenant.

"Such strength in such a rare element. And at such a young age." The official said.

Adil looked at Seras and back to the official.

"You honour me with your praise," he said to the man.

"Well if you could, please do me the honour of sticking to the military honorific of sir. I am a knight major and as such the highest ranking military official here."

"So, Seras. Along with your journey did you have any other associates I should know about?"

Seras appeared visibly agitated, rubbing the back of her head as she tried to think about what to say she looked to Adil and he nodded in reply. it was up to Seras now to keep what happened a secret or not.

"Along our travels, we joined up with a group of goblins sir."

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"Goblins?"

"Preposterous." Shouted the lieutenant.

"We had found that the black contaminant originated from a curse removed from the goblins. Upon finding out that this was the cause of a dangerous and highly developed hive-mind contaminant, a dryad-"

-for the love of"

"- helped us to stop the evil and clear the taint from all goblin-kind."

The lieutenant said in a hushed tone to the major. "This is what happens when you put a woman in such a position of authority." He said. Horatio took notice and seemed to clench his hand at the sound of it.

"This story gets more amazing the more I hear from it. Tell me, why had a Dryad come back from the dead and for what reason would it be helping the goblins."

"I'm afraid I do not understand the question, sir.

"Well, my good captain. The dryad species have been dead for hundreds of years, and goblins are not exactly friends of humanity." The lieutenant had begun staring towards Seras, his face turning red.

"I was unaware of that sir, but I insist everything I have said is a truthful account of the expedition."

The major laughed. " Oh, I know it is true. I tell you, the reports we have been having over the last few weeks. you have shown through your many accomplishments to be a worthy captain, both in integrity and ability. The question is, what that means to you." He said. The lieutenant beginning to grow uncomfortable.

There was a moment of silence before the words were drawn out of Seras.

"I think we should leave the goblins alone. Not fight them and go our separate ways"

"This has gone on far enough. they are an abomination. A treacherous, miserable plague. We cannot think of these... goblins as anything more than a stain needed to be cleaned as fast and thoroughly as possible!"

the major turned to the man. "She is your commanding officer. treat her with the respect of her due post lest I strip you of your rank right now."

Lieutenant turned to Seras and disingenuously said: " I'm sorry... sir. But if you were to have your way, we could trade with them, share food with them. Maybe one day they could be our... friends.."

Seras waved her hands in an expression that said *why even bother*. "And would that be such a bad thing?" she said almost sarcastically.

The room became stiffly quiet, for the warm sunny day it was chilling.

"You've lost half the room, but the others are still thinking about it," Adil said to Seras with a supportive smile. His new detection of their emotions was letting him tell how far gone they were.

"But, gobo's are gobo's," Lucian said from the back.

"You've seen how they changed though, they don't seem as itchy. Like they want to eat their arm one moment and then attack a tree another they look almost, human."Said another guard.

The room looked stuck, half of it wanting to get out their ideas whilst the other fiercely wanted to defend theirs. Seras's eyes went to Horatio, she knew out of everyone here he had been dealt the worst of it.

"I support Seras. If she wants to treat goblins like people, then I think we should." Horatio stated.

Seras thought about what he would have gone through to say that, the trust he must have in her and started forming a tear.

"All that support Seras and her plan show hands," Horatio added lifting up his hand.

The space was silent again as the guards began looking amongst themselves. A hand went up, and then another. Slowly hands began to rise. As her eyes drifted amongst the crowd they gave knowing nods before lifting hand after hand.

"You have all gone insane! Seras you will doom us all." The lieutenant shouted.

The major having given up with the lieutenant seemed to just sigh.

"Well, I'm afraid it's too late. A crusade has been organized to push back and destroy established goblin settlement, killing all goblins within that area. "The major added.

"No," Adil said

"They should have just entered the maze, they gave the word of a large orange pillar of light in the distance. I realise this might be upsetting but there is little to no chance that you can stop it now."

"We have to go! Right now!" Adil insisted to Seras.

reducing her volume and speaking close to Adil she said.

"Ok, but the dryad and the goblins."

"I'll kill my self then warn the rest, you move with the others to come and help."

"Ok, you do that, I'll finish off here-"

"Oh, and Seras. That's just the first lot. I want you to know, I'll be joining the others when they arrive and kill every last one of your goblin friends." said the lieutenant.

Seras walked over to the staut man. his confusion and furrowed expression made his nose stand out more than Rowen Atkinson playing Mr Bean. It stood out less when Seras had planted her fist between his eyes. Noone else interfered or seemed to mind.