The cave shook violently as the morning Sun rose over the horizon. A group of adventurers adamant on eradicating the very last of Goblins had spent the night tracking them through the forest to a cave expertly hidden behind a gathering of thick vines and foliage.
The adventurers that tracked the Goblins had been hired by the King of the Humans to ensure the complete destruction and consequential extinction of the 'filthy little monsters'. With a large sack of gold and positions of power with land on the line no stone was left unturned and no cave left unexplored.
The only problem these hunters had were the magic resistant vines that blocked the cave entrance. It took several hour of trying but at last the two mages of the group managed to create a person sized hole in between two of the thick vines. The mages took a break while the rest of the party geared up and stepped inside the cave.
"Ryan come check this out! Hurry!" hollard one of the men in a large suit of shining armor. Ryan ran over to where Samuel was prepared to attack something. But what lay before his eyes was something almost unfathomable. Crystallized Mana!
"Holy Shit! We're rich! Hahaha! We need to tell the others. They'll need to hear this." He turned to go over to the rest of his group when a heavy hand fell on his shoulder, holding him in place.
"Now hold up a sec. There's no need to tell them about ALL of these little moneymakers. I'd rather split the majority between you and I since we're really the only two non backstabbing assholes in this little outfit of ours. And before you start I know what you're gonna say. But we need the money. That was the whole reason for taking this job in the first place. "
Samuel knew that out of all the others in the group, Ryan was the only one he wanted to tell or even share this with. The other 'adventurers', as they called themselves, were only doing this as an excuse to kill animals and maybe even people and to just be the complete buzzards they usually are around other actual adventurers that happen to 'accidently and tragically die doing a service for mankind' while working alongside them.
Ryan, however, was different. He was what the older, veteran adventurers referred to as a 'Tyro'. He joined the advnturers' guild as a way to help make the world a better place by soldiering on through both the work and the people. A novice in every sense of the word with a heart of gold.
Ryan was the kind of guy who naively trusted everyone to do good and commit no evil. Which was why when Samuel suggested holding out on the rest of their party he was stunned and somewhat appalled.
"How can you even suggest something like that? They're our teammates and we should be open with them." Samuel, however, was adamant on teaching this kind yet foolish boy the reality of a person's greed.
"Listen, kid, they're not our friends. They came on this job because I'm an old man and you're fresh meat. You and I need to stick together or we may not make it out of here intact. Now I know you want to believe in the 'natural goodness' of all people, but sometimes that just ain't gonna happen."
"Would they really do that to us? We're supposed to be comrades, brothers in arms ready to fight evil. 'Although I don't know why we consider Goblins or Beastmen lesser being or evil'. They should have our backs, not stick their knives in them." Ryan was having a hard time with the notion of betrayal. On the one hand he wanted to believe in his fellow man. But on the other, Samuel has been like a mentor to him in teaching him all he knows. It would be a mistake to outright refute him.
At that point an unknown voice came from all around them. "Believe it or not. I smell the stench of the dead on them. They're not as innocent as you imagine them to be."
Samuel was ready to defend them in an instant while Ryan slightly fumbled trying to get his sword and shield ready. A slight chuckle came from the unknown voice. His words laced with amusement. "You two aren't like them though. I can see the light in you both. So this is your chance. Leave these caves and you may live to see another day."
Samuel was slightly relieved to be let go. His years of warriors' instinct was practically screaming at him to get the hell outta there. Ryan, however, was slightly apprehensive and questionably decided to push his luck with the mysterious voice.
"What of the others? You expect us to leave them behind? How can I knowingly do so? Impossible!" Samuel's heart sank to his feet as Ryan argued against their only salvation. 'Dammit kid! I may be slightly old but I don't want to die here. I've yet to successfully woo Rosie with my irresistable charms'
The voice laughed as Ryan finished speaking. "Yes....How can you leave knowingly.....How about like this." BANG
A loud clacking sound reverberated off the cave walls as Samuel realized Ryan was no longer next to him. "KID!" He looked around frantically for any signs of Ryan in the immediate area. Nothing. "What the hell did you-"
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"Relax. He's just outside the vines. That young man doesn't know when quit while he's ahead does he? Had I been a malevolent being, I might have just killed him where he stood for ignoring my gift to him. But seeing as he has much to learn, I figure giving him a chance to improve might have its benefits in the long run." The voice mused aloud before turning its attention to Samuel.
"You would do well to heed my words and your own to learn the boy about the world we live in. It's a dangerous time to be having his mindset. We'll meet again young Samuel." Samuel tried to speak but couldn't find the words as he felt himself suddenly feeling lighter and lighter. "Oh, and do say hello to Rosie for me. I'll be keeping a close eye on you three from now on."
The voice's laughter surrounded Samuel as he was teleported to the entrance of the cave. Landing right next to where Ryan was standing he hit the ground with a thud and an "Ow" Ryan helped him to his feet and they began to discuss what had happened. However that conversation ended quite abruptly when a large sack full of the crystillized goodies from before landed between them.
The pair decided that they would be better off discussing their encounter when they got back to town lest they forget to count their newfound wealth in all its crystalline glory.
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Viktor woke up to a nervous, fidgety little girl trying to shake him out of his slumber. He groaned as he grabbed her and held her in a tight embrace as he turned over to get some sleep.
Lily tried to struggle and worm her way out of his hold but realizing its futility silently gave up. She had been worried that he would never get up. The way he slept made one worry if he had stopped breathing at all. Totally still other than the occasional twitch of his leg.
This was a battle that Lily had yet to win against Viktor. Earlier on she would wonder if he was just faking and purposely teasing her, but eventually she came to the conclusions that one: he actually isn't a 'morning person' just like he says he isn't and two: he really likes to hold someone while he sleeps. She once woke up to find him snuggling up against a log. She couldn't help but uncontrollably giggle at him several hours afterwords.
The two women leaning against one another woke up to see their shenanigans and let themselves laugh a little at the scene playing out. The little girl had her cheeks puffed up in annoyance while the man was beginning to snore.
Suddenly the cave shook violently and deep cracks began to run along the walls of the cave and slightly toward the ceiling.
"It seems we have guests." Three heads spun to face the mouth of the cave where the vines were beginning to glow a faint red. Slowly, the vines begin to be pushed to either side letting in light from the outside.
"Stay here, I'll be back. He got up and walked to the front of the cave as people began to enter through the hole. While Lily seemed to be interested in a flower that was growing near a cave wall, the two women kept their nervous eyes on Viktor who walked as if he didn't have a care in the world. Suddenly a shroud of darkness surrounded Viktor and the newcomers. This display of magic terrified them.
After all, Goblins were notorious for being weak in using magic. Most couldn't even use magic and relied on physical strength and large numbers to accomplish their goals. 'He can't be a Goblin can he? Impossible. No Goblin could do that.' The young woman's mind tried to wrap itself around the idea of a Goblin mage but found it hard to even consider it a possibility. The pregnant woman, however, sat in stunned silence and awe as Viktor unleashed his power.
A short while later the black shroud dissapated and Viktor stood over several Human bodies. With a wave of his hand the bodies burst into flames until they were nothing but ash. Viktor turned to see the two women staring at him. "What?" Both shook their heads. "If you say so." He walked towards Lily and started to discuss what they should have for breakfast. The women on the other hand were surprised at how casual Viktor was with what he did.
They half expected him to flaunt his power in front of them in a display of dominance. While trying to think of what to say to him, he turned to them and asked a question.
"What is your plan?" The two sat there in confusion until he continued. "You should know that we are the last of our kind. The only four Goblins left in existence. Personally I think it wise for you to stay with us but I would like to hear if you had any plans prior to us meeting." His words were met with even more confusion and silence until the pregnant one spoke.
"What you mean 'last of kind'? We not understand what mean. Others come soon to take back to village." Viktor looked on with sympathy and regret for not finding them sooner. He lamented over his choice to put off searching for other Goblins. The cost of such a choice, he noted, would haunt him for a very long time. "I mean that there are no more Goblins left. The four of us are all that remain of a once great race of intellectual minds and unparalleled warriors."
The pregnant woman being the speaker for both women was the first to understand, to at least some degree, what he was trying to tell them. "Only us? No others? Anywhere?" Viktor nodded sadly. "I searched everywhere I could. You three were all I could find. And even then, I couldn't save all of us." He nodded towards the corner where the old man was with a sheet coveringhis body. The women were sad to see him dead but already knew that e would be.
The younger woman still didn't seem to know what was going on until the pregnant woman took her off to the side to explain. Once she did that Viktor took the oppurtunity to speak with Lily. He had an idea of where he wanted to go next but was also curious if there were any places Lily would want to go.
"So Lily, where do you think we should go next? I was thinking of visiting some old friends of mine in the land of the Fae. Unless you would like to go someplace different? That would fine as well." Lily responded to this with a look of contemplation. On her face bloomed a toothy smile up as an idea popped in her head.
"I want to go to see the fairies too!" Viktor nodded with a smile of his own as the two women came back from their private conversation.
"We go too. Not want stay here. Not want alone." Said the pregnant woman, to which the other one nodded in agreement. Viktor smiled at the two of them, no longer thinking of how to trick persuade them if they didn't want to join him and Lily. "Then let's get going shall we? We have quite the long journey ahead of us."