It was a good day and it was the day when the inauguration of the goblin village was held. It had already been months since the start of its construction.
The beavers lined up near the shimmering water, their sleek fur glistening in the sunlight. The brother moles, each with their partners by their side, huddled close together, their whiskers twitching with excitement. The wolves' pack sat majestically, their piercing eyes scanning the scene with a regal air. Goblins darted everywhere, their nimble fingers expertly preparing the feast, the aroma of their cooking wafting through the air.
The meat and the cuisine were sponsored by the Dabby Cows, who were still in the midst of propagation even during the event. Since it was fine, they were simply left to their own devices. After the wolves and the goblins successfully contained them, the Dabby Cows seemed satisfied as long as their basic desires and needs were met.
There was a stage constructed just for that day. The monsters that were visiting just kept on coming, from the snakes and the monkeys, the harpies, and the large hedgehogs whom the old woman had just seen for the first time. A herd of sheep arrived too.
When it was time Skulk stood on the stage, using his Mythril sword and another stone sword he hit them together to gain all of their attention.
“Hello, friends! Welcome to our newly built goblin village! We have food and drinks all around! I'd like to thank the beavers for constructing our houses!” Skulk pointed at the beavers, and the group cheered, slapping their tails together. “And the moles over there! They'll be living near our village. Reach out to them if you need any earth-related work done!”
“For those who are here! I would like to announce the goal of this village!-” Then Skulk pointed at the beavers making a dramatic sequence of tail taps. “-I will be conquering the whole forest! No deaths included!” the goblin then smiled.
The crowd was silent. They didn’t know how to react.
Suddenly from above, a shadow loomed all over the forest. It was the dragon Horus. Skulk invited him. Johanna who saw the dragon for the first time shook in her boots. It was really huge, she wondered how old it was.
“GrrrhhHaaaauuurghh!!” Skulk began vocalizing what Johanna perceived as grrs and rumbles: the goblin was talking with the dragon.
The flying visitor answered back, his voice reverberated through the whole village. Skulk was sure that he had already warned the other species but still seeing the dragon almost made half of the goblin fade. Actually he just really wanted to shake up the goblin chief and the other green goblins who were right now shaking on their feet.
The dragon began glowing and slowly it shrank down. After fading, with a loud “Thud!” something fell down just fell down. It was two meters tall of what the monster could tell as a human, rather it was a humanoid. Horus in his humanoid form entered the village and greeted each one of the creatures he could see. But this didn’t dispel any fear at all. Some of the creatures would faint, and others would cry in fear while trying to reciprocate the smile the Dragonoid would show.
After making his way through the crowd of monsters, in actuality, the monster opened up a path to the stage where the goblin, Skulk was.
“Skulk my friend, I had invited all of the lords to come and attend the village inauguration!-” he then reached out his hand, “-I’m sure you still got some room to spare right?” then he innocently laughed.
“Of course! We are prepared,-” Skulk veered into the horizon. “-Oh! They are coming!” it also steered the other’s attention, one by one the lords of the forest revealed themselves.
A large snake whose name was Lammy was the first one to appear, she was so long that when she reached the entrance of the village, her body was still out in the forest, and some of her daughters followed her like they were her escorts. Lammy the snake controls Time, Gravity, and Space magic. She was also the eye of the forest as she could see all through her kin.
“Skulk! Hiss… I want some of that Dabby Cows!” she said as she arrived.
Then from the north side a four-legged beast as large as the wolves arrived, he had an air of grandeur on his stride. 9 tails followed behind him while his eyes were squint and sharp, pupils almost couldn’t be seen. He was Rory the Fox, controller of Flame and the master of the citrus fruits. Unlike the snake, it seemed that he came alone. Following the edge of the village that was marked with a wooden fence, he located the entrance and hopped over the body of Lammy before proceeding to the stage.
“Hmm… I thought Horus would eat you… good job goblin!” the fox greeted with a soft bow and so did the goblin too. “Manners make the monster…” the fox added.
The snake who was watching them squinted her eyes.
The fox greeted her too as a sign of respect and the snake reciprocated with a soft bow too.
“Daigo and Fenn won’t be able to attend, Fenn is a nocturnal creature and Daigo had some problem with himself…” the fox said. She then checked out the only human who was in attendance at the event. “Sniff… human… hmm, I haven’t had a taste of it for a long time… she looks old though… but a bite would still be nice.”
Johanna who heard this almost drew her sword but she saw Skulk waving his hands.
“She is my visitor… you can’t touch her and talk to her like that,-” the goblin said, there was a tint of venomous threat to his words. Rory the fox spoke it in human language so that Johanna could understand what he said. “-You have to go through me first!” the goblin smiled.
Rory could feel an air draft behind her and could see the excited waving tail of the wolf. “Now, now, now, I’m here to enjoy the festivities, sorry to disappoint you Razorback.” the fox’s eyes disappeared as he tried to make a smile.
<--->
The largest house in the goblin village was a large like mansion. Although the snake couldn’t go inside the mansion, a window was specifically made for her so that she could go through it and put her head on the table on the third floor of the mansion.
“This might be the first time you lords had been in one place…” Skulk spoke, he would be the one to lead the strange meeting as he was the one who requested Razorback to fetch them.
They were now sitting and gathered at a circle table.
“I want to know… what are your requirements to become a Lord of the forest?” it was the first question of Skulk as he took a look at the faces of the lords.
“Respect,” “Power,” “Fear,” “Knowledge,” it was the Snake, Wolf, Dragon, and the Fox who spoke respectively. Skulk panned his head looking at them one by one.
“I want to be one but I don’t know what exactly I have to offer, what do you think?” Skulk said he was honest, he had to be or it was possible that he would be ripped to shred.
It was a far cry to consider Horus the dragon his friend. The first time they met, he saw his life flash before his eyes. He wasn't eaten because Horus was bored and fascinated by Skulk's strange manner of speaking. Despite the fear, Skulk still spoke fluently.
Razorback the wolf would probably backstab him the moment he saw a chance or a plausible cause to inflict chaos and start a battle to satisfy his thirst.
There were only a few interactions with Lammy the snake, but Skulk was sure she had a mysterious purpose. Her power was immeasurable, and the information and threat she brought commanded respect throughout the entire forest.
Finally, the fox—it was actually Skulk’s first time meeting him. He had a mystical presence, and the goblin could tell that he was not a normal monster fox. His stature and gestures screamed of knowledge and confidence. The visitor began thinking.
They were unsure how to answer the goblin's query. Goblins were generally considered a lower species of monster. However, Skulk was different. He was articulate and clear in his intentions. His eagerness to learn made both the snake and the dragon respond to his pleas.
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The first one to raise his hands was the Dragon in dragonized form “The lords of the forest was just a name that the snake spread to protect the monsters around the forest, creating a proper Eco-system,” it was a revelation from Horus.
The snake smiled and nodded, her silence was a meaningful indication that it was true.
“Yeah, he is probably right. It was a snake that informed me I was one of the Lords of the forest. I didn't need it at the time, but because of that title, I got to battle the Orc Chamon!” The wolf then licked his teeth in a gesture of reminiscent excitement.
“Me, I just kept killing those who tried to steal my oranges, I studied them and erased their species, that’s why I was named one of the lords as one of Lady Lammy’s kin said,” Now it was the fox who answered.
Everyone’s eyes fell on the great snake. The snake finally opened her mouth and slithered her tongue “I will pronounce you as a lord if you could kill that human there,” Lammy said.
The goblin glared at the snake. She was truly an unpredictable monster. Johanna, who heard it, instantly tensed up. Her sword was just within reach, and she held it tightly, ready for anything. Although she knew she might not live much longer, she wouldn't give up without a fight.
“Or take all of the lord’s acknowledgment, including mine as last… it's up to you!~ but I will not help you if you take this path, it would be unfair of me to you, you have to prove yourself,” the snake said with a hiss.
There was silence in the room.
“I would acknowledge you, you don’t have to prove me anything, just invite me to the parties sometimes!” Horus said. There was no resistance of acknowledgment from him.
The wolf began wagging his tail, “As long as I get to fight I wouldn’t mind, I really liked that idea you told me, the ranking systems!!” Razorback grinned.
“Hey, that’s still a secret!” Skulk said with a glare.
“Ranking system?” Johanna was baffled by that word.
“Hmm… not for me… if you want my acknowledgment you have to take my test,-” the fox smiled at Skulk then stared at Johanna who was the only human and whom he thought that was out of place. “-I don’t know the where bouts of Daigo but he expressed his hate to you to me once… I will be waiting in my tree if you want to take the test,” then with a puff the fox disappeared.
“Preposterous… he used a clone to attend, he is getting better!” the wolf, Razorback said while he used his tail to generate a soft wind to remove the smoke.
“I’m still here wolf! I told you earlier that I would like to enjoy the festivities!” the fox said as she was already outside, the lords took a glance at the window and the fox was really still there.
The fox was taking his time on barbecue stalls that the goblins were manning.
“So the meeting is finished, right? Let’s go eat some!” the wolf declared as he was really a fan of the Dabby Cow Meat.
The dragon stood up while the snake retracted her head. The wolf was still the first one to get out since the room had space for him to move around properly. Still, the snake bent some of the wood while the wolf bent some of the floors.
“You should build a better meeting place for those creatures,” Johanna commented. She smiled behind their back, every one of them talked in human language which was really weird for her but she knew that they were being considerate of her.
“I’m already considering it… Razorback already warned me but this was the best outcome I could ask for,” he then looked at Johanna, “He stared at you, Rory, what do you think?” the goblin asked for the old woman’s words of advice.
“I don’t know… but the hostility he had shown me was real,” Johanna answered truthfully.
Skulk stood up and tapped Johanna’s shoulder since she was still sitting. “Don’t worry! Let’s just eat! Oh, the goblins would be dancing later and Horus would be displaying some fireworks at dark.”
“The Dragonoid?” another surprise for the old woman.
<--->
Two days after the gathering.
At Skulk’s tree house which was located a bit north of the goblin village. He had just slept, he was looking for a good spot to build a good meeting place for the lords.
A large claw perched on the wooden railing of his tree house, the goblin was awakened by the sudden shake.
“Sssskulk… are you awaaakesssth…?” a familiar voice.
Skulk went out and saw 2 large eyes wallowing at him. In a few seconds, his eyes adjusted to the dark. It was Lammy the snake and the large Owl, Fenn.
Fenn stood tall and imposing, his stature matching that of an average human. His feathers, though ragged, formed a neat and intricate pattern that gracefully contoured his body, giving him an air of wild elegance.
“What’s with the visit?” Skulk said. The goblin was still a bit sleepy.
“Sssskulk… we have a requuessst for youuu….hisss…” Lammy was trying to speak properly but her tongue was not making it easier, the snake then urged the owl to speak up by turning her head.
“Someone took my egg… my wife is enraged, I could calm her down but for a while only, I need someone to search for the egg,” the owl said. Fenn cocked his head.
“You got it!, I’m just going to take some of my equipment! Where should I go?” Skulk said trying to wake up his spirits.
“Ssssouth East… Ssswamp!,” it was Lammy who answered. Her tongue slithered with her tongue showing the direction of the swamp. “-Hurry up! The foressSSSst would be trouble hisssSSss…”
The owl then immediately flapped his wings, there was not even a sound as he gallantly hovered and disappeared into the dark night.
“Lammy… is it possible to ask for help or is this some kind of test?” the goblin asked.
“This issss no a tassssk… the owl wasss really in troublessss,-” the snake spoke with its slithering tongue. “-You are probably the only one who could peacefully resolve thissss.”
Skulk’s eyebrow contorted as he tried to surmise what was the real goal of the nightly visit.
<--->
The swamp was dark at night, two humans sat in front of the campfire. There was a pot hanging on the campfire and bubbling sounds were coming from it.
“Already done! Let’s have our supper!” it was a woman, with blond hair in front of her was a man, dark brown-haired. She began pouring some soup into the wooden bowl that was in her hand.
They were both wearing thick clothes ready for the night’s cold weather. Just beside them were two pieces of eggs, larger than a normal one. The smile on the man’s face told how much they would be earning when they sold it.
The two didn’t have any jobs, rather they were not born inside a kingdom and was been living within a circle of nomad tribes traveling around the world.
“We could buy a blessed land with the eggs, two pieces at that, I told you when I saw the nest, it was of Grand Owl’s,” the man said as he began eating his food, he quickly gulped down the soup and it made the woman smile.
“My love you are right! Here, have some more!” the blond girl said and poured more food into the man’s wooden bowl.
“Can I have some too?” another voice murmured.
“Okay! Huh?!” but the woman was sure that he was holding her own wooden bowl, there was another wooden bowl that was in front of her… and a goblin reaching out, pleading for the food.
“Monster!!” the woman said and she threw the small pot she used to cook food.
The goblin was agile enough to dodge it and even caught it to prevent it from spilling. “Ouch! Ouch! Oh, there!” but he still successfully placed the hot pot on the ground.
“The goblin!! It's talking!” the man immediately took out a knife that was hanging on his waist. “-Lela! Come over here!” he said pulling the blond girl closer to him.
“Wait! I’m not here to hurt you… I just want to talk!” the goblin raised his hands but the humans that were in front of him didn’t care.
For humans, the goblin was comparable to a slime, they were the next in line in the weakest monsters. That must be the reason the man tried to attack.
The goblin’s hand flickered and there was already a blade of glowing blue on his hand. It was ominous, it cut off the knife that the man was holding.
“What!!” the man screamed, he began searching for their bag that he should have known where but was already in a panic.
“I said I just want to talk! Humans!!!” the goblin released a deathly glare that oozed with blood lust.
It made the woman pee on where she stood, the man was shaking on his boots but he was willing to do anything just to survive.
The goblin noticed their stature “Oh, sorry! Sorry! Let me make up for it!” the goblin apologized.
Upon releasing his bloodlust, the two fall to the ground.
…
“My name is Skulk, I want you to give me back the egg of the owl you stole,” the goblin didn’t have that crazy stare and was actually smiling.
The two were sitting, the woman was already cleaned up, and the goblin offered her new trousers for her and even gave her a new cloak.
The man gulped before he answered carefully “Sir Skulk… we need it to sell it for money, we want to buy a sacred land, for our clan,” he said but he was already holding the egg in front of him.
“But we want to live… sorry for the trouble… here,” the man’s words were sincere.
Skulk smiled and took the egg, “If you tell me more about the sacred land maybe I could do something about it,” he wanted to help them at least because he knew that he was a human once and probably because of the old lady.
It was the woman who began to talk.
In the continent of Alifonza, it was not easy to survive. Humans are always under the threat of monsters, for some reasons unknown, monsters would always follow humans and try to destroy their settlements.
The sacred lands were special lands that could repel monsters approaching them. But all of the sacred lands had already been found and searching it was very costly. So the larger kingdoms already had the monopoly of all the existing sacred lands.
And all shared a common problem of repopulating it because of different survival factors. From sickness and food problems, the balance of jobs, and the greed of the nobles.
“How about this, I would give you a sword in exchange for the egg! This must be worth something!” Skulk showed the same sword he used to cut the knife of the human.
It glinted terrifyingly bluish. The goblin placed it on the ground.
“You are naive… didn’t it even occur to you that I could use it to cut you down?” the man said, the woman beside him tried to shake him in frustration.
“If you think you can beat me with swords… you can’t…” Skulk was sure, he used the Scanning Staff before approaching them.
“I believe you,” the man said and took the sword. “Can we stay here for a while?” the man checked the sword, it was beautiful and placed a smile on his face. “This would be worth a mountain… thank you and sorry for the inconvenience!”
Then the man bowed followed by the woman too.
“I see… happy to help… try to leave as quick as possible in the first light of the day… don’t be complacent because of the sword… or you will die,-” The goblin stood up he was ready to leave “I guarantee no harm would come to you tomorrow as long as the daylight is on… goodbye.”
The goblin began leaving. The fickle of the campfire was moving and as soon as the shadows waved on the goblin’s body he disappeared.
It left a lasting impression on the two humans… the wise and kind goblin of the Reed Forest. They would never want to meet him again.