I rub the sleep from my eyes, the remnants of a restless night clinging to me like cobwebs. Glancing down, I find Ruby curled up beside me, a comforting weight against my side. Her hand rests on mine, cool against my skin. Tentatively, I reach out, brushing my fingers across hers in a soft caress.

A sleepy murmur escapes her lips as she stirs, her eyes fluttering open a moment later. "Good morning," I murmur, leaning down to plant a kiss on her knuckles.

"Mmm," she mumbles, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite her closed eyes. "You?"

"Never better," I reply, squeezing her hand gently.

A soft chuckle escapes her, and she nuzzles her face closer, the warmth of her breath tickling my cheek. We linger for a few precious moments, content in the quiet companionship.

With a slight sigh, I throw back the covers and begin pulling on my armor, the familiar weight grounding me. Beside me, Ruby mirrors my movements, slipping on her gloves and retrieving her staff from the nearby table.

"How about a quick bite on the second floor before we head down?" I suggest, gesturing towards the door.

Ruby offers a sleepy nod, then surprises me with a quick peck on the cheek before skipping out of the room, her cheerfulness infectious.

Reaching the landing, I find Rodger perched on one of the chairs by the round table, a warm smile creasing his features as he catches sight of us. I return the gesture with a wave, Ruby slipping in beside me as we make our way towards him.

Rodger booms with joy, a plate piled high with various meats appearing in his hand like a magician's trick. "Feeling more alive this morning, kid?"

"Definitely less like a zombie," I admit with a tired smile, accepting the plate and offering a slice to Ruby. "Thank you."

Rodger's smile falters, a flicker of seriousness crossing his features as he takes a swig from his mug. "Things are getting a bit hairy these days, wouldn't you say?"

"What do you mean, Dad?" I ask, concern lacing my voice.

He sighs, his gaze drifting out the window. "Nothing," he mutters, shaking his head. "Just an old man feeling his age compared to you youngsters. Maybe after this mission's over, I'll just stick to regular work. These crazy events are starting to wear on me."

"We all feel it, Dad," I assure him, the memory of the colossal serpent and the overwhelming orc horde flashing through my mind. "Believe me, those things were enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed."

"You've still got a long road ahead, kid," Rodger says, his voice turning somber. "I'm starting to think there's a reason these events keep happening to you and the lass over there." He lets out a heavy sigh, his words hanging heavy in the air. "Maybe she'll come to realize it too..." he mumbles, taking another long drink.

A bitter smile tugs at my lips. Just then, a voice cuts through the tense atmosphere.

"Well, well, well, look who's awake." Aveline saunters down the stairs, a yawn escaping her lips as she stretches languidly. "Mind if I grab a slice?"

I hold out the plate, a wry smile playing on my lips. "Sure, help yourself."

She snatches a piece of meat and begins gnawing on it absentmindedly. The conversation flows into a comfortable murmur, mostly centered on the earlier duel with Duke. Despite the lingering unease in my gut, I force a smile, determined to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

With empty plates, we head down the stairs, the four of us forming a unified front. Xander stands behind the reception desk, a makeshift replacement for the usual staff.

"Sorry to burden you with this," he mutters, shaking his head apologetically.

"No worries at all," I assure him, keeping my voice calm. "Besides, it's not like we were swamped with activity."

"Alright, then," he says with a determined glint in his eyes. "Let me open the access to the underground by the stables. Using the trapdoor here would be too risky."

Xander strides purposefully towards the front door, the stable nestled conveniently beside it, but no horses can be seen. We follow close behind.

Reaching the imposing double metal doors, Xander pulls out a chain, its metallic clink echoing in the tense silence. With a heave, he throws open the doors, revealing a dark abyss and a staircase leading downwards.

"I'll leave them unlocked," he says, his voice serious. "Just push the door open if you need to come back up."

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I nod firmly, a silent promise passing between us. "Let's do this."

"Good luck, all of you!" Xander calls after us, his voice ringing with sincerity.

"You can count on us," Aveline replies, her tone brimming with unwavering confidence.

...

The stairs deposit us into a large room constructed from the same stone as the inn's first floor. But an unsettling anomaly mars the space – a gaping hole carved into one wall. It leads to a cavern roughly three meters tall, shored up with precarious wooden planks. No question about it – this is an abandoned mine shaft.

The sheer incongruity of it boggles my mind. Why on earth would an inn be built on top of a mine shaft? It seems like a bizarre coincidence, almost as if the builder had been completely unaware of the hidden tunnel lurking beneath his establishment.

With cautious steps, we venture into the shaft. The sight that greets us is unsettling. Four emaciated creatures, their pale green skin stretched taut over their bony frames, materialize in the flickering torchlight. Their pointed ears and noses leave no doubt about their identity – goblins. Clad only in their birthday suits, they swing their pickaxes with listless motions.

Despite their ragged appearance, the goblins don't display any hostility upon noticing us. Instead, their hollow eyes flicker with a desperate hope as they focus on our figures.

"Something's off," Rodger mutters, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "These poor creatures look like they're being forced to do something against their will. And judging by the state of this shaft, they're digging towards… nothing."

One of the goblins, his voice raspy and barely audible, rasps out, "Humans."

Aveline scoffs, rolling her eyes as she grips her sword hilt tighter. "Goblins."

"Wait, Aveline," I interject, extending a hand towards her to stay her blade. "Let's hear what they have to say first."

Another goblin pipes up, his voice laced with desperation, "Boss… acting weird…"

"Kill us… stop mining…" the third one chimed in, his voice barely a whisper.

"Hungry… eat…" The last one croaks, his voice barely above a whimper.

One by one, the goblins shamble towards us, their pickaxes clattering to the floor with a dull thud. All we can hear are their desperate pleas, a testament to their exhaustion after all those pointless hours spent hacking away at the unyielding rock.

Just as the rhythmic clanging of the pickaxes fades into an unsettling silence, a guttural roar erupts from the depths of the shaft. It sends shivers down our spines, and some of the goblins begin to weep openly.

"Well, that settles it," Rodger says, his voice grim. "Looks like we know what we're dealing with. We need to get rid of that thing and put a stop to this madness."

Aveline, Ruby, and I exchange a resolute glance, our weapons held tight. With a nod, we venture deeper into the shaft, leaving the terrified goblins huddled in our wake.

"You three," I call out, my voice echoing in the cavern, "stay here and rest. We'll check out the situation."

My words seem to drain the last vestiges of tension from their frail forms, and the goblins slump down onto the rough ground, a mixture of exhaustion and relief etched on their faces.

...

As we press deeper into the shaft, the flickering torchlight illuminates three more goblins. Unlike their despondent brethren before, these creatures bristle with hostility, hissing guttural threats as they brandish crude daggers.

"Rrrakatta!!!" they screech, launching themselves at us in a desperate charge.

"Well, these ones seem a bit more lively," Rodger mutters, a frown creasing his brow. "Prepare yourselves!"

Aveline and I waste no time in leaping into action. I surge forward, driving the Pike into one goblin's chest with a swift thrust before sweeping upwards in a fluid motion. Aveline employs a brutal efficiency, her foot connecting with another goblin's jaw with a sickening crunch before her blade flashes in a deadly arc, piercing its skull.

Rodger, ever the marksman, waits for a clear shot before unleashing an arrow. It finds its mark with a satisfying thud, burying itself deep into the remaining goblin's form.

"That was almost too easy," I remark, raising my spear as I survey the scene.

"They were likely at their wit's end long before we arrived," Rodger observes, his gaze lingering on the fallen goblins. "Their desperation fueled their aggression."

I can't help but agree. Even in their initial state, their gaunt frames and hollow eyes spoke volumes about their plight. We press on, the silence broken only by the rhythmic crunch of our boots on the rough stone floor.

Another ear-splitting roar echoes through the cavern moments later.

"Seems our friend down here isn't the picture of patience," Rodger mutters, closing his eyes and scratching his head thoughtfully.

"Any thoughts, Dad?" I inquire, curiosity piqued.

"There were three of them originally," he explains, his voice low. "But the one in the middle… it killed the other two creatures. There are four more goblins waiting for us further in."

As I suspected, his [Hunter Instinct] proves invaluable. Rodger can glean information simply by honing his senses. A surge of admiration washes over me.

"Dad," I blurt out, "can you teach me that? I really want to learn how to sharpen my senses like that."

Rodger lets out a hearty chuckle. "Mastering that skill takes years, kid."

"Sounds like it'd be worth the effort," I counter, my determination unwavering.

A playful glint enters Rodger's eyes. "We can discuss it. Having a general for a student – that does have a certain ring to it, wouldn't you say?"

I can't help but return a wry smile, while Ruby lets out a soft chuckle, clearly amused by our exchange.

#

End of Chapter 10...