The rest of our lesson was uneventful. Tusa concluded our brief history lesson and dismissed us to lunch, grabbing herself the first portion of the day's stew before retreating to her usual corner. We lined up in our standard order of eldest to youngest, filled our bowls from the boiling pot, and then sat in a circle on the floor.

The boys chatted about the lessons, focusing primarily on the information about skills and tiers. Drazahar loudly grumbled about things being unfair, I wasn't sure if he was referring to his master skill or being a goblin in general. Lost in my own thoughts, I paid little attention to the conversations around me. I summoned my system interface.

Growth of Self

You have completed 9 of 10 milestones.

Growth Stage: Adolescent

Growth: 89.22% out of 100%

Warning: If you pass 90%, You will no longer gain the fast growth boon.

That was interesting. I hadn't realized the last milestone had caused me to grow from 'child' to 'adolescent'. That must have been a big deal, right? I read over the warning as a shoveled stew into my mouth. Losing my 'fast growth' boon seemed like it might be a bad thing. I was less than one percent away from losing it, but I also only had one milestone left. I decided that if I did exceed ninety percent before I completed my final milestone the loss of 'fast growth' would be negligible.

The part of me that screamed to achieve this quickly began to organize the information in front of me. This boon could last me the rest of my life. Who knows how long I live? I quickly calculated that if I wanted to achieve this I would need to do so... today.

There was now a small panic filling my inner self. Cursing myself for not pushing harder on this. Resigned to likely not achieving it as what would I kill after all? The creatures we butchered the other day we realized were already all dead.

With that out of the way, I diced to check my Attributes. I had grown from a child to an adolescent, which must have meant I had grown stronger. At my request, the red window appeared and I read over the information eagerly.

Attributes

Physical 4

Constitution 2: Strength 1- Endurance 1

Dexterity 2: Agility 1 - Perception 1

Mental 2

Wit 2: Cunning 1 - Rhetoric 1

Wisdom 0: Intelligence 0 - Sense 0

Spiritual 2

Chakra 0: Dantian 0 - Prana 0

Soul 2: Will 2 - Psionic 0

What? That couldn't have been right, nothing had changed! Was the system broken? There was no way I could be so close to becoming tiered and not have grown any stronger. It just didn't make any sense, there had to be an explanation. I probed the system with my question and received no response. While this wasn't surprising, it still deeply annoyed me. That left me out of luck, if the system had nothing there wasn't anywhere else I could go for answers.

Or was there? My eyes fell on the secluded corner of the room, occupied by a small stomp, a table, and a Goblin Shaman. While Tusa seemed reluctant to teach us at the best of times, she did know a lot more about the system than I did. Asking her seemed like a safer option than mother and especially Gooblis. I stood with my bowl in hand.

“Off to get seconds already?” Malkadian asked in a teasing tone

When I reached Tusa eating her own meal. She looked up at my approach. “what is it Idika?”

Used to her tired attitude already I wasn't taken aback by her attitude. cautiously avoiding the fact I can look at my attributes any time I would like. “When I reached my adolescence stage, I unlocked all but one of my traits. My attributes did not change.”

She stared back as though I was an idiot then a glint of realization came across her face.

“So you're telling me that you happened to look at your attributes and they hadn't changed?” A slightly quizzical look came across her eyes. A bit of panic started to raise in my chest.

“Goblins are a Core race, which means they fall under the secondary races. They have fewer growth stages. This on top of falling under the scavenger classification will only have three stage changes In which you gain attributes, Your last growth stage being Adolescent will only give you your last few traits. The Mythonic trait and racial trait will come when you are of age.” Tusa lectured Dismissing her prior inquiry in a slightly different way when I asked this question than she had Drazahar. It was almost respectful.

Dumbfounded I let slip at the complete explanation and at the fact that she answered fully. “You answered?”

A stifled laugh came from Gooblis as she answered for Tusa. “We are naturally a Matrilineal society. This horde is a bit different from the rest, unfortunately. Our horde is patrilineal only due to some incidents. We Shamans though” With a pause considering her words continued ”are still matrilineally inclined.”

Almost in excitement, I asked another question “Are all the mythoi matrilineal?”

“Heavens no. The Orcus, for example, is not a matrilineal race, and remember idika if you marry one they will either be your equal or your better. Your father and I are equals hence why I own my own things.” This time it was my mother.

She continued, “There are races such as the Arachne that eat their mates. To races like the Helminth who make their mates, and the Slimporan who breed Asexually. Though as often as Tusa seems obsessed, it is a result of her breeder of the swarm trait. This world is filled with many things. Conquer it, my children! Experience what life has to offer not what warms your bed.” As though a declaration Urana with a visible hint of love in her eyes turned away heading out the door. Stopping at the entrance.

“As discussed Gooblis, I will bring what you requested of me. However, know that Sadaash will come for your head someday.” Leaving a dreadful chill in the room she left.

I could barely breathe, When I came to from staring at the empty doorway I looked towards the target of that threat. A long wooden mask decorated her face carved with fangs and trimmed with metals. The eye slits visibly had that silvery fire similar to Mother burning in them.

She was shivering, Her still visible hands a pale green which I had come to realize what paling from fear. In her other hand a short stick with an orb at the end of it seemed ready to be used.

For something like magic to be banned yet used regularly by shamans and mother. This greatly confused me.

Tusa was the next to recover. “Your mother will be procuring the creature you will kill. The temple is in an agreement with your mother for your education and training. I respect your mother for staying with our ways.” Tusa was behind me putting her hand on my shoulder.

She continued, “I would spend time with your brothers and converse with them. This last trail will be dangerous as the temple is bound by a spiritual contract. However, there is always a loophole. You have gained much from your mother's and father's sacrifice. Don't waste it.”

At that last mention of my father's sacrifice I felt a boiling rage fill me. What has he sacrificed He has left mother all alone to deal with burdens not even I could comprehend. She... She even lost her ability to have more children and that drink... God that drink.

I wanted to cry, to ball up go back the world where I came from. Anything would be better then this.. this crap.

I turned around though and looked at my brothers. Each of them looked back at me. We exchanged a silent agreement as they had heard and felt everything that just happened as well.

Beat Sadaash that son of a rabid rabbit fucker.

We gathered and began to plan our roles for the future.

“We will be in a situation in which we can't rely on mother or anyone else.” Drazahar Began.

With this we all began arguing with each other in what to do. My usually silent brother Dahkan Spoke. “I will take the front and take the brunt of whatever we face.” This declaration startled several of us but nodded. Dahkan usually won when we wrestled for fun.

We continued hashing out various ways to approach the future problems of the fight without knowing what we will face. Eventually settling on the following roles

Dahkan and Malkadian will take the front.

Drazahar, Inash, Tamar and I will flank.

Tasar and Makadian Will support us from the back.

The conversation eventually derailed into the plans for the future. As we had learned from my earlier conversation with her if I asked the question she would answer it. This peeved the boys which I found adorable.

We found several things:

We will be led to the edge of the encampment to fend for ourselves during an event called release of Ur. Which happens to be in three days. We must leave regardless if we are of age. There will be other goblins.

Makadian plans to recruit some goblins alongside Drazahar. Numbers are power for goblins after all.

There are several hunting grounds around the horde encampment left for the goblins. Any other threat is slaughtered by an orcus Warband. Afterall if it can be killed by a goblin it's no threat to the horde.

After all

We will focus on hunting and foraging. Our primary goal is to join a burrow or dig one ourselves. Any goblin not in a reported burrow by the end of this month will be hunted and offered as tribute.

As we where making more plans we heard a dragging of feet and a dripping sound. coming from outside the door. We fell silent.

Urana came into view. Her deel was in tatters much of her exposed. I never noticed before but my mother's face had a lot of makeup smeared across her face. Her age looked young. Her makeup seemed to make her appear much much older. It was a mess now and she looked tired, particularly around her eyes where it appeared as though she wept.... Her hands and arms were bloodied dripping blood onto the ground. I was speechless.

When she spoke I could feel the dread and somewhat broken voice I never thought I would hear from my mother. “It is done and she is restrained as required of me....”

Staring at the older Hoblin. “Gooblis... I may be bound by a soul contract. However, know that racial rank will not protect you as both my essence and tier are still higher. You can't kill me and neither can the horde touch me because of the binding contract with Sadaash. Soon we will come for your head for taking advantage of my pact with you Taruuk be damned. You should have taken the payment and left it at that you miserable wench.”

Mother then looked at us and left. leaving a small sentence. “I will not bear witness to this dishonor.” She left after that.

Gooblis threw whatever she could towards the door smashing several items. Screaming profanities that greatly increased our vocabulary. Many of them derived from the likes of; goblin bearer and a Urca breeding wench

As though on cue Tusa started guiding us toward the same door mother left through and down another hall.

We approached a gate. To the side of the gate was a rack of crude spears and knives. We were instructed to take one of each. The Size of this temple yurt still amazes me. If we move so often how is it taken apart???

When the gate opened I got a whiff of the rusted iron of blood. I felt hot as a gust of wind burst past us. and in the center of an arena-like room speckled in blood and it's legs wrapped in what looked like barbed wire chained to spikes hammered into the ground. Its guts slightly hang out of its stomach. Shards of glowing crystal humming faded in and out with a fiery light.

In horror, I realized what we must kill. I could hear Tasar and Inash both puking and I wished ever so much to join them.

“You must kill this warg and present its heart to your mother.” Tusa began. “Your mother bore goblins with an Orcus which is a crime as your father has high standing as a general in this horde. He serves his burden of poor seeding. The temple has found a way to now punish her for not being good enough breeding stock.” Tusa looked at us.

“The pacts binding us all shall be lifted your mother will though serve for the remainder of a year. She also bears the crime of being a magic smith in practice. If you die though she will be released. If you succeed you live. You may see her and your father too say your final farewells as a reminder of their living sin against the horde.”

At this, she left and closed the door behind us leaving us to our fate. Hearing a low growl behind us. This growl mixed with a bittersweet voice.

“Shameful, to be faced with the low tiered. betrayed by Urana. Bound no more shall I be. I shall free her as our last act of fellowship but no longer be her mount. The death of her last brood shall settle our matters.”

When I turned The owner of the voice was revealed to be Sha'ree