Steeve’s POV

As Nathan got to the now dead Hobgoblin leader tent to evolve, I stand in front of the entrance and spoke with my loudest voice.

“_ I received the order to protect Him. If anyone comes near, I will kill immediately! No one is allowed to disturb the boss as he evolves ! “

I see all the goblins who were still here nod their heads. As the goblins scuttled away to participate in the plunder, I just stood ramrod straight in silence to guard the tent.

When a few dozens of minutes passed I relaxed a bit as I thought back to the first time, I saw him … Nathan.

I do not remember the first month of my life, it is probably the same for every goblin. A month after birth we are already ready to fight and even more ready to die … But my oldest memories of myself was when I was part of in a five-goblin group.

One of them was extremely disconcerting to say the least, and if another goblin were to judge him at that time, it would say that he was abnormal. There are always a few abnormal goblins birthed here and there. Some have deformities, like a caved in head, and only groan and scream, some are birthed with the cunningness of a hobgoblin, some are way smaller than a goblin, some are as tall as a hobgoblin.

Mourzuk even told me about his previous boss. He was also an abnormal, when he was hobgoblin, he was even taller than some tribe warrior, he said.

Anyway, that particularly strange goblin was whispering and mumbling at all time. Sometime some strange language, which was very beautiful I must say.

Sometimes he was mumbling something about his name. I saw him write strange and intricate symbols on the ground once while roaring at it, asking the strange symbols to give his name back. I didn't understand why he was so obsessed with his name, us goblins don’t have name when we are born, since parents just take care of you for a month before they toss you out. Those who had a name either chose one for themselves, or get one from some higher ranked individual, but it is relatively rare.

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I took an interest in him, he was different. I wished to understand him, to know why he was so obsessed with his name, with his memories … I felt concerned

as I saw him pained and despairing to remember. He did not eat much and was even more scrawny than the average goblin, neither did I saw him ever sleep. That is when I started to interact with him. I introduced him to other goblin, scavenged for food with him, while doing those he seemed more and more relaxed, he ate normally and even started to sleep ... But one day he refused to come with me.

“_ You are trying to make me forget my memories ! You trying … kill me !?”

He said with burning anger.

I did not understand what was so important to remember for a young goblin. I felt wounded, I only tried to help him survive and he was accusing me.

So, I punched him straight in the face, ready to battle him when he stood up … But he did not rage, nor did he flee. He just stood there cheering. While I thought he finally turned completely crazy, he thanked me.

“_ I remember ! I do ! My name is N …. N ? N-something.”

He said his fingers pinching his chin and his head tilted. He even asked to punch him again, which I did. After a few minutes he asked me if I know something like punching but that do not hurt. As a matter of fact, I knew.

He was exalted when I told him. That how we had sex … multiple time. Goblins libido are strong after all and very fertile, two days later I was pregnant. The abnormal goblin seemed pleased with news, he still mumbled and whispered while walking in circle, but he ate and slept normally.

Ten days later the baby died in my stomach, the physical pain was extreme, but the mental pain was even worse. A goblin who can not reproduce is considered like defective and useless by the others. After I lost consciousness he was nowhere to be found. I thought he abandoned me.

Still two days later he came back, speaking fluently, something that took many months for goblin to do even with the language the gods blessed us with. And he was different, he was cunning, way more than a hobgoblin and he knew how to make weapons, pots, he knew how to direct the other goblins with words.

I know now why he needed to remember; the memories made him stronger.

As I was reminiscing throughout the night … Grom and Mourzuk came back with Nathan’s goblins, carrying hides, leather protections and even a metal sword. There were at least fifty goblin prisoners with their hand bound on the ground.

As the sun came back up and everyone waited, I heard retching noise from the tent. Just before I turned around to look into it we all heard Nathan’s roar, resounding everywhere, most of the goblins took a step back in surprise, as for the prisoners they started to defecate in their loin clothes.

I immediately came in the tent and saw a Hobgoblin as tall as Goruk, standing in the middle of the room. He had long hairs, a brown skin, and lean muscles. But the most particular thing about him was his eyes glowing brightly in the shades of the tent. They were red.

I was happy to see Nathan evolve … but when our eyes met he retched again before speaking with effort.

“_ Go out ! for now … I need some time.”

He seemed disgusted. Still I obeyed and got out were Grom and Mourzuk were impenitently waiting for their leader to come out.

“_ The boss said he will come out after some time. He told us to wait !”