My moniker is Kaiser. No, I don't have a royal name—I’m not a king, prince, or baron.

The meat sizzled. The juices hissed against the fire as I slowly turned the skewer. The girl before me seemed to believe I was just an ordinary traveler, unaware of the truth. I don't need this food, to be honest. Across from me sat a caged girl I had found at the goblin camp.

I described her position as sitting, but her knees were up to her face. Her arms were tightly wrapped around her, her hands strategically placed. Her long, wavy brown hair hung in tangled curtains over her face, but her wide eyes were locked on me, unblinking. I could feel her trembling from here.

“Relax,” I said, not even looking up from the fire. “If I wanted you dead, you’d already be part of this stew.”

She flinched but said nothing. Typical. I’m a knight from Rimu, often called the slums of Elveria. They never have much to say once they realize who or what they’re dealing with. I understand her fear. If I were in her position, I’d probably be terrified too.

The crackle of the flames filled the silence between us. I let it stretch, waiting for her to speak. Say something. Anything. I have a mission, and this is a distraction. Most of the time, people give away more that way. I guess she has something to hide.

Perhaps she’s a hungry siren—and she’s looking at me like that instead of the cooked creature in my hand because she wants something more significant to eat.

Who knows.

Let’s rewind for a moment to the forest: the ash, the screams, the scorched wood just before I met her in that goblin camp.

━━━━━━━°⌜前⌝°━━━━━━━

The forest was darker now, and the air was heavy with the stench of rot and something else—not much different from where I came from. I didn’t mind it, though. I was much more focused on the scent of the fleeting gremlins I was following.

My boots pressed into the ground with cautious steps. This sword's aura seemed to grow darker and thicker. I rested a hand on the hilt, the familiar chill biting my palm.

“Finisirae. Which way? ”

There was no response for a moment—only the forest's silence. The blade emitted energy toward the direction of a scent. I turned, adjusting my path. I wouldn’t call it talking. Finisirae didn’t speak in any way a person would understand. But it answered in its own cold, violent way. A way…only I could understand, I suppose.

As I walked, I couldn't help but focus on the area; my nose twitched as I approached the space where Finisirae's aura led me. Looking up, I saw smoke, which almost smelled better than the blood earlier. I stopped at the edge of the clearing.

"Found you," I whispered, my voice not heard under the flames in the distance. I began to step forward. My steps grew faster as I went from a slow-paced run to a fast sprint. Confused, the goblins threw their heads up as they heard quiet steps approaching them before one goblin screamed in agony.

Finisirae sang in my hand, its dark aura rippling as it bit into the first goblin's neck, silencing its scream with a wet gurgle. The others turned too late; their confusion turned into terror as I tore through them like a storm.

It began to rain, and my eyes widened with excitement. The next goblin crumpled as its chest was split open. The third tried to flee but was caught mid-step, its legs severed as blood spurted in crimson flashes over my armor. Yet? That didn't stop me. I moved with ruthless precision, my movements a dance of carnage.

A goblin ran at me with a jagged spear. It lunged at me, snarling. The goblin threw the spear, but I sidestepped. Effortlessly.

The spear whistled past my head, my blade plunging into the goblin’s gut, twisting it to cause the creature more agony.

A huge axe swung down over my head, yet I put my hand up. Catching the impact with my bare hand, my hand bled from the catch. I turned, looking up at the massive goblin who threw the axe at me.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I yanked my sword free from my last victim, then, with a quick pivot, drove the sword upward, splitting the goblin’s weapon—and its skull—in two. Both goblins collapsed with a shriek drowned out by the crackling fire beside me.

The clearing was silent now, save for the occasional crackle of the flames. I stood near the bodies, blood dripping from my blade and my hand. I raised my hand, letting the rain hit it and barely hissing from the pain.

But my hiss turned into laughter, dark and rasping. I reveled in the pain, in the rush. It was like I was one with it; its effect was minimal. And I felt like I was second to none as long as I had this—sword.

The blade that brought me into this world. The blade that made me into a demon when it came to the things I hated.

Goblins. Gremlins. They disgust me. The sword pulsed in my hand, and for a moment, my vision pulsed, a flash of something wild in me.

But I cursed, throwing the blade into the dirt with a violent grunt. It stabbed down into the ground as I panted slightly. Its power waned slowly as if it was excited from the rush. Then, the pain from my still bleeding hand came.

The rain hit hard and cold, but it did nothing to clear the buzz in my head. My breathing became heavy as I stood, wiping my bloodied hand on my pants.

“Damn sword…” My voice was rough; I hadn't spoken since I rushed to this small camp. I looked up, letting the rain hit me. I listened for any other goblins or gremlins around for me to hunt. That's what I was sent here for—my mission? Yet I know I can't do this forever. Soon, one of the orc clans will begin looking for me.

Gremlins, Goblins, Orcs, and maybe even Hobgoblins. I don't think I can take Hobgoblins without a guild, if any, still stand inside this land.

Rindale.

I have to make it to Rindale.

I need to make it to Rindale.

I shook my head, clearing my throat as I spat on the ground before I heard it—the water in the distance. No, the flowing river is not far from the camp. I could use it now.

I began to walk toward the water, sliding down the small cliff and stopping before the mud-and-dirt at the water. I looked down at the water, briefly glancing at my reflection before I threw my hand into it, letting the current take the blood.

I don’t have any bandages on me to prevent any infections. Maybe they could’ve dispatched a cleric with me or anybody if I was in a guild.

I glanced back at the clearing, climbing up with my non-injured hand. The fire still crackled in the distance, the smell of scorched flesh lingering in the air. It didn’t matter. The goblins were nothing but pests.

I turned, wiping my hand off the muddy ground, the cold water still clinging to my fingers. Then I heard it.

The sound of creaking wheels, muffled voices. Goblins, their language carrying over the air. I looked over where I heard it coming from. A carriage was coming to this ‘camp,’ cargo at the back. Hidden beneath a blanket.

The rain slowed. I needed whatever was in that carriage. Whatever it was, it would keep me moving. I didn't bring money from Rimu. I approached quietly, slipping out of the camp and behind the trees near the path I used to enter the village.

The two goblins in the carriage hadn't noticed me yet, but they would. They always did. And when they did? It would be no different for the others of their kind.

━━━━━━°⌜不久⌝°━━━━━━

I guess that brings you up to date… I apologize for my storytelling. Then again, I suppose my voice could be interesting to some.

━━━━━━°⌜展示⌝°━━━━━━

“... So. Girl. What's your name? Are you going to speak now? Why did the goblins have you as cargo? Who are you?”

I stabbed Finisirae into the log beside me, the cursed blade vibrating faintly as though displeased. Not that I cared; it had gotten what it wanted today.

The sound of the metal smashing into the wood made the girl flinch violently—her eyes wide and trembling.

I stood up and then walked to her. She grew increasingly anxious. I crouched in front of her, my face inches from hers.

“You’re trembling,” I started, trying not to scare her anymore. She looks like she's on the edge of breaking even now. Her eyes tell it.

“There’s nothing for you to be afraid of now. Not from me. Not anymore.” The girl's whole body had curled itself to shield. My brows furrowed; I had a mission.

“What’s your name?” I asked again, tilting my head. “Why were the goblins dragging you around like cargo? Who are you to them?”

For a moment, the only sounds were the fire and the rain. She swallowed. Her voice caught somewhere in her throat.

“My name is... My name is Elara,” she whispered, finally speaking. Took her long enough. I smiled, leaning back and studying her face. I think I get her. Almost. The huge mystery she's been holding back. I stood up. Walking back to where I began.

“Well, Elara,” I said, picking up Finisirae. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. And I feel you will make this journey far more interesting than I intended.”

The blade pulsed faintly in my hand as though mocking my words, but I ignored it, turning back toward the fire.

“Let’s see if you’re worth the trouble... And get you some clothes while we're at it.”

I sat down, back at the log. The fleshly hole from Finisirae noticed, and Elara's eyes didn't leave it before looking back at me

“Uh…” She begins; I could assume she wasn't one for conversation starters. It must have been hard with her environment with the goblins, especially with most of the Orc Race not understanding the human tongue and using their barbarian language. I waited for her to speak so we could get moving. I don't talk while we move.

“Wh—what's your name?”

I looked back up. Confused by her asking me the question, I maintained eye contact. My face moved by itself, lips curving into the best smile I could give her.

“Kaiser... It's Kaiser.”