The village was completed in no time. Hujarin and the Brothers couldn’t believe that the skeletons had built an entire village in a couple of days. Awestruck they turned incredulous stares toward me, before stopping their training and rushing over. Before they had even made it half the distance to me, many voices joined together in a deafening cacophony.
“What the….”
“How???”
The many shocked Goblins could barely stammer out questions in their ferocious and confused excitement. The boisterous questioning began to become bothersome, having had enough I held up my hand to silence the crowd. Taking a deep breath I began answering their questions.
“Relax now, my friends, all is well. We needed a home, with the gifts bestowed upon me by Chooftoof, I have provided. With my newly acquired lost knowledge and my mystical powers, I have constructed our home. Soon you will all be able to see various professions in action and you can choose which you would like to learn. For starters, any of you who wish to learn how to hunt please follow Burwil and Illeorv. But make sure you all head to the housing section to claim a home.” I explained while pointing toward the Housing Sector.
The Goblins took off running, squealing with excitement, toward their new homes. A concept most of the tribe were unaware of, having only ever known the chains of slavery. The Goblins scrambled into random houses to claim them as their own. Shortly after they returned to me and excitedly volunteered to learn anything and everything.
I strolled over to one of the larger buildings, eagerly followed by Goblins excited to learn. Having the skeletal contraction crew whip up some desks, chairs, and bookshelves, I transformed the empty shell into a center of learning. Thus the first official Goblin Academy of Survival Arts was opened.
Burwil and Illeorv took to teaching with abandon, imparting their hunting expertise to all the Goblins. The Brothers split the classes up to teach them skills more efficiently. Burwil taught them beginning tracking, foraging, and skinning techniques. While Illeorv taught beginning hunting, trapping, and concealing techniques. The Goblins devoured the new knowledge studiously.
While the rest were learning survival skills from the Brothers I was also hard at work instructing Hujarin. If he was going to be my right-hand goblin, then he was in desperate need of an education. This might be too much but I’ll take it as slowly as I can. You will be one of the pillars we build this new Goblin civilization on. I hope you’re up for the task. Opening my spatial storage I started pulling out a multitude of tomes from my vault, setting them on the table between Hujarin and myself.
“You may not be able to be a warrior like you used to but believe me when I say you are not useless. With these private lessons, you will be my first apprentice. You will be the first of many who will help me create and guide this new civilization. You have the potential to be better than you were before. With the knowledge you can learn from these forgotten tomes, we can be better. We can elevate Goblinkind to an entirely new level! I can not force this choice upon you, Hujarin. You must decide for yourself. The path of knowledge is an unending journey fraught with peril. Only you can put yourself onto that path!” I said.
“I, Hujarin, pledge myself as your apprentice until I return to Chooftoofs embrace. I will eagerly absorb all of my master’s lessons, no matter how long it takes me. Teach me everything!” Hujarin pleaded as he dropped to his knees placing his head on the ground.
“You chose well, my apprentice! You will have the opportunity to learn many things. Once we begin it will be a grueling endeavor, but hold firm and the strength you will obtain will be beyond your belief. Fear not, for when we begin lessons in the magical arts Chooftoof will unlock your potential, allowing you to find your affinity. Shall we begin, Hujarin?” I said.
“Yes, Master!” Hujarin replied eagerly.
Grabbing a tome of alchemy out of my spatial storage I quickly blazed through the process of the Inspired Learning talent. This will be the first subject that I teach to Hujarin. This will be the start of the rise of the goblins! Once Hujarin masters this skill he will become my Chief Alchemist. Passing this knowledge onto others as he creates The Alchemists Guild and the beginnings of our medicinal trade. Baby steps, but soon an empire will boom full of wonders the world hasn’t seen in a long time.
Queue intense training montage!
Over the following months, I split my time between improving the village and teaching Hujarin. The Brothers spent all their time hunting with each other and those that desired to learn. After the most recent lesson with Hujarin, I left him to his independent studies as I walked through the village. Goblin children were running through the village carefree and filled with joy. This does being a smile to my face. Never thought in my previous life that the joy of goblin children would bring me joy. I think I’ve embraced my new existence quite well. Surprisingly easy actually it kind of just snuck up on me. No complaints though, this life is way better than that pitiful excuse for the life I had previously.
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On a whim, I conjured a few Summoned Spirits and had them half-heartedly pursue the children. They screamed in feigned terror before loud giggles burst out of the children as they ran away faster. Dispelling the spirits, my smile deepened as a laugh escaped my lips. I haven’t laughed like this in a long time! Life of good!
Days continued to fly by as Hujarin hungrily devoured his lessons and was making great progress. Hujarin was an avid learner and the pace of his improvement increased immensely. Soon enough Hujarin was on the path to mastering the alchemical knowledge that I possessed. Hujarins' grasp of alchemy was impressive, and the speed at which he learned the recipes was astonishing, to say the least. After acquiring the ancient secrets inscribed in the Tome of Alchemy, imparted by myself, Hujarins alchemical expertise may have even surpassed mine. Well, I’ll be damned, so situations, where the student surpasses the teacher don’t just exist in novels and movies!
As a reward for his quick study and deep understanding of Alchemy, I built a grand hall for Hujarin. Once the building was completed, I called the goblins to an assembly. They quickly gathered, wondering what was taking place.
“I’ve gathered you all here for a wondrous occasion! Hujarin, my first apprentice, has just completed his studies and mastered Alchemy. As a sort of reward for his studiousness, I officially proclaim him as Alchemist Prime. On top of his new title, he is now the head of, our very first institution, The Alchemists Guild. If any of you have an interest in potions and poultices, please head to the guild hall and apply to join the guild. Also Hujarin you have free reign inside the Hall of Alchemy, design, membership, and everything is under your jurisdiction. If you need anything just let the skeletons or The Brothers know and they will get it for you. Carry on with your day. Dismissed!” I announced.
The gathered goblins cheered in congratulating excitement before wandering off to return to whatever they had been doing before the assembly. The majority of the goblin left with smiles on their tiny green faces. Happy as can be they were excited for Hujarin who they all knew, even though none of them were sure what Alchemy or a guild even was. Shortly after the assembly ended, it was just Hujarin and I standing there. Before I could turn my attention to other matters, Hujarin stopped me by clearing his throat.
“I can’t begin to express how joyful I am to have been given a purpose. The knowledge you’ve shared with me is priceless! I will do all in my power to make something of the Alchemy Guild. For you, for myself, and the glory of Goblinkind!” Hujarin exclaimed.
“You will do well of that I am certain! Remember anything you need you just have to ask.” I replied.
Finished with my business here I walked away, as I looked back Hujarin was staring at his guild hall in awe. Hujarin noticed my glance, nodded slightly, and hurried inside. As Hujarin entered the Hall of Alchemy he was struck speechless. Tears slipped down his face as he noticed the simplistic beauty of the hall. The scent of the forest still lingered in the air tickling his nostrils, reminding him of his youth as a free goblin. It was a pleasant change compared to the rotten stench of the slave pits they had just been freed from.
With a slight shake of his head, springing him from his reminiscing, he began to explore the Hall in its entirety. Popping in and out of various rooms, Hujarin's shock deepened as it dawned on him just how big the Hall of Alchemy was. The hall in its current state could house around fifty apprentices, each getting a sizeable living space. As Hujarin continued to explore he found several large rooms that had plaques above the entrances.
As Hujarin got a closer look at these plaques he began to read them. Laboratory, Dry Storage, Wet Storage, and Garden. Hujarin was nearly catatonic after witnessing the entirety of just how grand Karloc had built this hall. I’ll just have to work extra hard to become the goblin that Lord Karloc sees me as! Better get started, I have a strong feeling that this is the beginning of a new era in medicine! After finishing the exploration of the hall, Hujarin the Alchemist Prime, walked back outside and yelled to a few of the skeletons loitering aimlessly nearby.
“Hey! You fellows come with me. I require your assistance with a task.” Hujarin bellowed.
Several of the nearby skeletons looked at Hujarin, skeletal features somehow expressing confusion, as they lifted boney hands pointing to themselves. Hujarin impatiently motioned for them to follow him. The skeletons looked from Hujarin, to each other, and back before shrugging their shoulders and falling in behind him. It would have made for quite an odd scene if anyone other than a goblin had seen it, a tiny green figure being followed by skeletons at least twice his size.
Hujarin and his skeleton crew left the village and entered the forest. He was out to collect herbs to get the Alchemy Guild up and running. He was mapping out the forest area as he traveled through it, marking out specific areas where he found certain herbs. As he discovered each ingredient he would stop and collect a decent amount. Half for making medicinal elixirs, a quarter to teach the new apprentices, and the rest for the garden to insure the supply. Hujarin was very thoughtful and had far-reaching plans. He knew they would need a lot of various medicines, not only to increase survival but to build up a massive trading empire. These were some of the grand ideas Karloc had imparted to Hujarin. He wholeheartedly agreed and shared in his grand visions.
At each resource point, he located Hujarin would fill a bag he carried full of the herb, making sure he left enough to keep the resource renewable. Once a bag was full he handed it to a skeleton to carry. Nearly half a day passed while he was collecting various herbs, he had quite the inventory and a nice map in progress. Valerian Root, Witch Hazel, Clove, Fly Agaric, Moonwort, Yarrow, Henbane, and Asphodel. Once Hujarin filled the bags he brought with him he thought it was time to return before nightfall. After walking for a little over a mile Hujarin stopped suddenly. His eyes darted back and forth as a feeling of unease invaded him.