Amidst the charred remnants of Gromar’s humble dwelling, an astonishing truth revealed itself; the defenseless Goblin was unscathed. Truly, It must have been by divine interference that he survived, for the flames had seemingly spared him from the cruel fate that befell everyone else.

Gromar, too, seemed perplexed and baffled by his survival. Awakening from his unconscious state, he first noted the lingering aroma of smoldering smoke. He next averted his gaze unto his own hands, and after noticing the apparent lack of burns proceeded to frisk and examine the rest of his body. Indeed, he was completely unscathed.

Weakly rising to his feet and staggering to the exit, Gromar then surveyed the charred remains of his forest village. The landscape had been rendered desolate, barring what little remained of scorched huts. Additionally, bloodied corpses littered the seared earth. Realizing now that he really was the sole survivor, Gromar was overcome with both grief and disbelief; disbelief that he, the one who had cowered and hid, was seemingly the sole life pardoned.

Making the matter all the more devastating, Gromar was suddenly reminded of his family. Abruptly and with haste, he traced the ruins displayed before him until finally reaching his parents’ hut. It was with teary eyes that he entered and begun his search.

But what he found was met only with daunting silence. His own kin – A mother, father, and older brother – had been rendered unrecognizable. In fact, there identities could be inferred only by the number of victims, and the location wherein they were found. With this, the already defeated Goblin collapsed to his knees and sobbed. The weight of loneliness was finally dawning.

His sanctuary destroyed. His family deceased. His entre tribe massacred. All around, the concocted stench of blood, smoke, and death was ever-present. And so, after taking a moment to investigate the ruins and hopelessly search for survivors one last time, Gromar finally relented and wandered aimlessly into the dense, foreboding forest; for the place that he had once considered his home now felt foreign and unwelcoming.

I am not truly abandoning my home… for there is nothing left to abandon.

And so, he travelled aimlessly for the next two days. But unbeknown to Gromar, he was not entirely alone, for a mysterious figure obscured by the foliage had been following him and watching from a distance. Being careful not to unintentionally announce his presence, the figure remained nimble; making sure to observe the melancholic Goblin sneakily from afar.

Still ignorant to the presence of a stalker, Gromar pressed on with his head lowered in anguish and guilt. Pondering what recourse to take, he ultimately decided to ask the heavens directly and so sunk to his knees before fully prostrating himself. Noticing this abrupt change, the mysterious figure likewise halted their movements. From the cover of a nearby tree, they watched on cautiously.

“O Heavens, hear me! Why, in thy mysterious design, am I left standing! I stood not as a selfless warden, but as a trembling coward… Have I been truly spared or is this a punishment unto me? Pray, unveil thy purpose!”

It mattered naught how long Gromar waited, for the resounding silence persisted. In response, he decreed the same prayer a second time. And then a third. Finally, realizing the futility of his pleas, he finally resolved to find an alternative solution.

Maybe there really is no purpose behind my survival… And I am too cowardly to avenge my fallen family, so does ending my life not present the most viable solution?

With this singular thought, the path forward was set. After all, it was a fate befitting his cowardice; to perish alone in a forest, a victim to none other but himself. In absence of any other means, he had decided that he would continue his march further into the forest, resolving to die from exhaustion or the natural elements. After all, he had already persisted without food or drink for two days, and so he had presumed he would last no longer than another day.

“Fine, have your way!” cried out Gromar bitterly in opposition to the heavens. Then, without any further consideration, he prepared to continue his fatal journey. Yet, in what must be considered another instance of divine interference, Gromar was saved once more. Truly, just as he was about to take the first step, a lone voice called out gently from the wilderness.

“Lo, It appears that the heavens have inclined their ear unto your pleas, young Goblin”.

Turning back, Gromar watched as an elderly individual held upright by a wooden staff and clad in humble, weathered robes stepped forth. Unbeknownst to the Goblin, this figure was his stalker who had thus far been following him. The robe was brown and loose fitting. His face bore a lengthy, unkempt beard colored grey. With an innocent and endearing smile, the figure stepped forward and approached the now frozen Gromar. Yet, there was one very important problem.

He… he’s one of those creatures that attacked my tribe!

Although an exaggeration, the surprisingly friendly stalker was indeed an aged human who – in the view of an ignorant, isolated Goblin – bore resemblance to those that had perpetrated the massacre of his people. Ignoring the serene calmness encircling the stranger, Gromar let out a loud shriek before bolting away into the forest. Lacking time and the luxury of contemplation, he surrendered to the guidance of his legs, which aimlessly led him deeper into the foliage. In a desperate attempt to escape, his hands swatted aside the draping leaves, weeds, and high grass.

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But what was the point.

After all, only moments prior he had been so intent on dying. Realizing his foolishness, he at once ceased his escape. For a moment, he thought back to the scenes that had occurred days prior in his village. He could still smell the death, blood, and smoke. Such thoughts only strengthened his fatalistic resolve. Subsequently, with his presumed soon-to-be killer approaching, he knelt down and closed his eyes; intending for the whole incident to be finished swiftly rather than prolonged any further.

That’s odd… he’s taking his time.

Peering through a half-opened eye, he observed the stalker approaching at a slow and rather unconcerned pace. Also, when thinking about it, barring the wooden staff he did appear unarmed. Given his age, he also didn’t appear to posit any feasible threat. Perhaps most perplexing was that he had even spoken in a language understandable to Gromar.

“Truly, I bear no ill intentions, young one… Rather, I believe divine providence has guided me here to assist you” the stranger proclaimed. Reaching the disheveled Goblin, he then waited for a response. After an awkward moment of silence, during which Gromar remained on his knees frightened and unwilling to arise, the stranger continued his introduction:

“I am Brother Avi of the Forest, and though I have borne witness to the devastation of your village I assure you I bear no hand in its ruin… Nay, by the guiding grace of the Inner Light I was lead here, the purpose for which now unfolds before my eyes”.

Brother Avi, it must be known, was by affiliation a Forest Brother; a term denoting the decentralized sect of hermetic human monks distinguished by their devotion to asceticism, contemplation, and spiritual communion. Indeed, to these monks, the forests serve not only as a backdrop for their practices, but also constitute an integral element enhancing their spiritual pursuit; with the quiet serenity of the wilderness serving to amplify their relationship with the Divine Creator. Accordingly, in rejecting materialistic civilization and adopting a vagabond existence, these respected and wise monks can be encountered traversing the many forests scattered throughout the Pharosian landscape.

It must also be known that Avi, in particular, was a rather famous Forest Brother known for his complete submission to sincerity, compassion, and piety. He was also humble and implored to continually acquire knowledge in spite of his old age. That is, he sought to thoroughly learn from others, and so he would listen intently to those that had surpassed him in discipline. Subsequently, his relationship to fellow Forest Brothers was quite complex, for he adaptably served as a wise teacher, an eager student, and a pious brother.

Yet, Gromar remained ignorant to this background context. Therefore, even as Avi reached out his hand in a gesture of peace and mercy, the conflicted Goblin was hesitant to accept it. Nonetheless, he eventually relented even if only to break the awkward silence and only after determining the stranger didn’t pose a threat.

Perhaps the Heaven’s did heed my pleas after all….

“Well… what is it you seek from me” Gromar inquired with a countenance of melancholy. The question, sudden and delivered with earnestness, prompted Avi’s eyes to soften with understanding. After all, he had observed from afar the disaster that befall Gromar and his people. Struggling to find an adequate response to the question, Avi hesitated before finally replying.

“There exists a proverb amongst us” he quipped, stroking his beard as he proceeded, “’As stars illuminate the Heavens, may the Inner Light guide thee through the darkest nights, and may thy kindness be a beacon to those who have lost their way’… Alas, my sorrowful companion, certitude lies in the fact that you art one in need of such kindness and guidance to unearth thine Inner Light”.

Although the sincere monk spoke only truths, an insidious and sinister force had infiltrated Gromar and urged him to resist the offered solace. The malign entity, though not physical, had coiled the Goblin’s heart. It had covered his ears, so that the words could not be truly interpreted. Perhaps most maliciously, the entity whispered notions painting its prey as a feeble coward.

He almost had me for a moment, but this is nonsense… the man stood before me cannot bring back my friends and family… him meeting me is not a response from the Heavens, rather it is complete happenchance… what I must do is seek vengeance, lest I remain a coward….

However, this inner turmoil had not gone unnoticed, as Avi had discerned the tangible signs of Gromar’s inner struggle by observing the tension that gripped his physical form. In continuing what was now paramount to a spiritual battle, the monk calmly yet authoritatively delivered his edict:

“Be of courage, young Goblin, for I too have experienced the storm that assails thee… and I assure you, the hand I offer as a gesture of peace and mercy mirrors the one that once lifted me from despair”.

As he spoke, Avi’s eyes reflected the depths of his previous struggles. He could see clearly the malicious thoughts intruding Gromar’s mind, for he too had once been burdened with such ideas. As if it were again happening to himself, he could feel the malign threads coiling Gromar’s heart. With such foresight, the monk proceeded with a confession:

“Truly, the sweet taste of revenge is but a fleeting experience, whilst the bitter-tasting imprint it sows upon the soul is eternal. I testify to you as someone who himself was once tempted by malicious whispers professing courage in revenge. Nay, the courageous is he who resists momentary emotions, choosing instead to break the restrictive bonds of hatred”.

As the monk once more extended a hand of mercy, Gromar hesitated. Yet he could not shake the words he had heard, for they were true. After all, what’s done is done, and nothing could bring them back. And what if this wise elder had truly been guided to Gromar by the Heavens? Additionally, he could not shake Avi’s gaze, for it was unjudgmental and compassionate. In that moment, the anguished Goblin decided to unclench his fist and accept the offered hand. In doing so a newfound strength flowed over Gromar, as he had freed his heart from the foul, insidious force; he had opened his ears to reason; and he had defeated the ridiculing whispers. In this instance, after two perilous days aimlessly navigating the forest, Gromar had overcome his first conflict with the supreme spirit of evil: though it would not be his last.