The three lean goblins looked out with their dark pupilless eyes and drew their curved swords and daggers. Elora chanted and gestured wildly with her hands, and professor Hanoi’s office was plunged into pure darkness. The elf then drew her sword and dagger.
“They were after the professor,” Nameless stated.
“What! Why?” Cried Hanoi.
Karl unslung the two-handed Dane axe and dragged the prone professor further away from the office and into the hallway. Elora, Ghoul One, and Nameless stood in a semi-circle before the blackness of Elora’s spell. Nameless gripped the Blade of the Void in his two gauntleted hands, and the steel and the leather from the long handle crinkled reassuringly. The knight felt good holding the sword.
Without noise or any warning, the goblins burst from the darkness. One engaged Elora, and the two fought in a flurry of slices, parries, and evasions. Ghoul one hungrily pounced on the second with claws and fangs. Nameless sliced the third, but his blade passed harmlessly through the goblin. It was an illusion that faded away!
“Karl!” The knight warned.
A goblin with spiked dark hair and rings pierced through their ears, and a sharp nose materialized before the Ooraki and lunged at the prone professor. Karl knocked the blades of the goblin aside with the heavier Dane axe. The goblin readjusted her lunge and slashed Karl across the chest, forcing the enchanter to fall back in pain. A wall of flame shot up in between the goblin assassin and Hanoi as the professor scrambled to his feet. Nameless tried to move to protect the professor, but the assassin engaged with Ghoul One was an opportunist and stabbed at the chainmail gaps behind Nameless’s knees. The knight parried the attack but was delayed, which left Zel to face off against the goblin swordswoman.
The goblin swordswoman closed her eyes and chanted as her body briefly transformed into shadowy tendrils that flitted through the flames and coalesced back into solid form unharmed on the other side.
Zel screeched and ran away, leaving Hanoi undefended. In a panic, the professor escaped into the courtyard with the goblin assassin close on his heels.
ARMOR MAGIC REMAINING: 10.25%
QUEST: SAVE THE GIFTED ONE
PROFESSOR HANOI HAS KNOWLEDGE ON WHERE TO FIND THE GIFTED ONE! SOME FORCES ARE WORKING AGAINST US AND ARE ABOUT TO KILL HANOI. YOU MUST PROTECT HIM!!!
Nameless shuddered as the message flared sharply in his mind. He and Ghoul One furiously attacked the goblin they were facing and forced the assassin to backflip away. With space, Nameless spun and ran out to the courtyard, where he found Hanoi surrounded by Imperium soldiers. The goblin swordswoman hissed and faded from view. Nameless knew where to find her as he could see the shimmering telltale signs of the assassin traveling through the shadow realm back into the University. But the knight was held fast by the sharp ends of imperium spears.
“He was trying to protect me,” Hanoi stated.
The silver armored captain whom the group met when they first arrived at Tameal nodded and shouted for his soldiers to enter the university offices. A few remained with their spears trained on Nameless, and the knight remained still as a squad of soldiers stormed the building. In moments they exited with an injured Karl, Elora, and Zel. Nameless briefly wondered where Ghoul One had gone. The remaining goblin assassins escaped using their Shadow Magic.
“I’ll be alright,” Karl said quietly to Elora.
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“That looks deep,” she said.
“It’s just a scratch,” the Ooraki replied with a weak smile.
The captain ordered someone to tend Karl’s wounds, and a soldier rushed over with bandages.
“You all are coming with me, and we will get to the button of this,” the captain said.
“We don’t have time! We must have an audience with the Wizards of Tameal,” Elora replied.
“About Prince Zaverick?” The captain said.
Elora paused as she bit her lip.
“Yes, I am aware. This morning the entire town of Wingleton just showed up at our gates,” the captain replied.
“Then you know the importance of our message,” stated Elora.
“The wizards are informed, now, if you all would come with me,” the captain motioned with a gauntleted hand. The spears from the soldiers made it clear that the captain was not asking.
They were led to the barracks, and Karl was escorted away to be seen by a medic. They entered the captain’s office, where he sat behind a heavy desk.
“Where is Sergeant Snel?” Nameless asked.
“Funny you should mention him. He is missing, and his home was found ransacked with papers conveniently placed on his table that indicate that he is a traitor working for Prince Zaverick,” the captain answered.
“What did the papers say?” Elora asked, and she knew that was the work of the guild.
The captain smiled at her and motioned for them to take a seat. “Share with us your message.”
Elora glanced around. Nameless nodded, and the elf took a seat. “We were told to inform the Wizards of Tameal that Zaverick has a Demon Heart.”
“Allegedly,” Zel added. Elora scowled, and the guard captain glanced at the necromancer before turning their attention back to Elora.
“That is dire news. Are you sure?” He asked.
Elora nodded, and Zel shrugged.
The guard captain turned to Nameless. “And what about you? What do you think?”
“I agree. I saw a large contingent of Caizene Demons that had sacked Sinora,” Nameless rumbled.
The guard captain nodded as he studied the strange squad of four before him. “Very well, I suppose arrangements must be made to defend the city. The curse Snel placed upon has been lifted. You are free to go.”
The four were ushered out of the barracks and back onto the main street.
Nameless gripped his head in pain. “Where is professor Hanoi?” He growled.
While holding his chest, Karl replied, “back at the university, I suppose.”
Nameless glanced around, and when no one was paying them any attention, he healed the Ooraki’s chest.
“Thank you,” Karl said, relief on his green face.
ARMOR MAGIC REMAINING: 10.25%
QUEST: SAVE THE GIFTED ONE
PROFESSOR HANOI HAS KNOWLEDGE ON WHERE TO FIND THE GIFTED ONE!
“Fine!” Nameless growled as he gripped his head. The knight stomped off in the direction of the University.
“We can save time if we take the cart,” Karl suggested.
Nameless paused.
“You think it will still be there?” Elora asked.
“Does not hurt to look,” Nameless said.
They headed toward the Crooked Wand. After traversing several streets, Elora spun with her blade drawn and held the point at the throat of a person dressed in hooded rags. The face was obscured.
“Why are you following us?” She hissed.
“Massster…” Ghoul One said from under the hood.
“Oh, who is a good ghoul,” Zel said in delight.
“Where did he get the hood?” Karl wondered.
“Ghoul One is resourceful,” answered Zel.
Nameless shook his head. He did not trust Ghoul One, but now was not the time to dwell on such things. He had to speak with Professor Hanoi. The knight stomped off toward the Crooked Wand.