I tap my foot on the cold cobblestone road, looking across the street from my little blue bench with Percival in my lap. He's an old little nanodragon who hates going outside at night, but he puts up with it because he knows how important tonight will be. After all, I've been yammering to him about it for a whole year, ever since the shaman told me about what would happen. I know what you're thinking: "But, Liam, Shamans are a dime a dozen in Briarvale! One minute, they tell you you'll be king, the next, they turn you into a frog!"

I'll admit, I was skeptical too, especially when she said Percival was a 'Micro-Basilisk', but her magic was unlike any spell I'd seen before. She showed me this exact street, on this exact night, with me sitting here. The temperature, the clouds overhead, even the postman rushing for a late delivery. And to ensure she was telling the truth, she showed me several large news events that she divined would occur in the next year, and like clockwork, they came to be (Still a shame about Mrs. Carruthers in that oven fire, but I digress)... even the Shaman's own death two months after our meeting while foraging for ingredients. Even so, I knew my friends would try to commit me if I told them I was doing this, so no one except for my and little Percy know I'm here. It wasn't my first choice, especially since I've never been to any of the cities in West Briarvale, but it was the best to save myself from ridicule. They just wouldn't understand why I have to do this. Why this might be my last chance.

You see, in all my 25 years of life, I've had daring adventures, faced mighty beasts, and dined with royalty... but I've never loved. Sure, I love my family, my friends, nature and animals, but I've never had a sensual love. A passionate love. It's never been for a lack of trying; princes have asked me to balls, and I've had to flirt with a mermaid or a succubus once or twice to help my crew, but it always felt forced. Hell, I've never even had a boyhood crush! I always thought I was cursed, but my mother assured me that the most favored goblin priest in the tribe conducted my blessing, to ensure I would be kept in favor. Yet, as my siblings start families and carry on our namesake, I can't help but feel like a failure. I, Liam Grimwalk, have to finally admit that under all my glamor and supposed valor, is a hole that I don't know how to fill, or even decipher. But no more! That shaman guaranteed that tonight I would find my soulmate, and I would be foolish to try and avoid fate now. All I have to do is wait for the first person to walk by me and... finally.

A tall dryad walks by in a flowing dress and shining rubies. Most likely coming from an aristocratic event, she looks a bit tired, but a glint in her eyes as she spots me tells me she's intrigued. She stops for a moment and smiles, and I smile back, hoping for some sort of spark to emerge. Nothing yet, but maybe once the conversation commences, it will happen.

"Good evening, Ma'am. How are you doing this fine evening?"

"I'm doing well, thank you. Say, do I know you from somewhere?"

Her voice floats like lilies on a spring breeze. I stutter a bit but pull myself together and respond.

"Not sure, but I most surely would have remembered you. Perhaps you know me from my hunting party: The Glorious Hippogriffs?"

"Oh, of course! The Gargoyle Barbarian Ember; the Scarab Archer Zalas; the Lionfolk Cleric, Heinrad; and most brilliant, their leader, the Goblin Paladin Liam! You just came from fighting those dastardly bandits in the Tundra, didn't you? I'm amazed you all made it out alive."

"Well, it's nothing a little flare with a blade can't handle, yes?"

She chuckles and looks at Percival, patting his head. Usually, he doesn't like strangers, but he takes to the woman almost immediately.

"Who could forget the famous Percival? He's even cuter in person."

"Thank you, Miss..."

"By the Gods, I've lost my manners! I'm Dreya. Dreya Moonhaven."

"A pleasure to meet you, Dreya."

I bow in respect, and as I rise, I spot a slight blush emanating from her jade green cheeks. I'm unsure if it's from an attraction, or my celebrity status, but she seems to like me. And I feel... well, happy, but certainly not attracted. She's devastatingly gorgeous, and quite friendly, but I don't feel the slightest urge to hold her close and whisper sweet nothings in her ear, like all the great heroes of myth. Still, I know fate would never steer me wrong, so I take a chance.

"Miss Moonstone, I know this may seem sudden, and I'm unsure if you're in such a mood, but would you be open to going to the local pub to continue our conversation in a friendlier environment?"

She smiles, and she seems to consider it, but just as I feel she's about to say yes, she steps back and looks at the street.

"Thank you for your offer, Sir Grimwalk, but I'm afraid my pollen flows differently, so to speak."

My heart falls into my stomach. I can't believe it; the fates said that the first person who'd walk by the bench would lead to my soulmate. I had been sitting on that damn bench for two mind-numbing hours, and I know for certain she was the first person. I'm most certainly not mad at her, but at myself... perhaps my friends are right to ridicule my belief in the fates. I turn to Miss Moonstone and nod, keeping a smile on my face.

"Understood, Miss Moonstone. My deepest apologies for the implication. May you continue to have a wonderful evening."

"You as well, Sir Grimwalk. I'm actually going to meet my Love and a few friends right now. A few of them are single, if you'd like to tag along. I'm sure they'd love to meet the leader of the Glorious Hippogriffs."

My eyes widen. Perhaps the fates did not forget me; the shaman did say 'lead me' to my soulmate, after all. I perk up, ready to accept, until a great booming grows behind me, and Dreya's face droops. I know that kind of face droop well. Danger is near, and I am far too tired and unprepared for a full-blown brawl. I turn, hoping to charm my way out of this like usual, but instead I'm met with the spiked knee of my opponent. I look up, and a good six feet above me is the scowl of an orc maiden, battle-axe attached to her back, with three comrades standing close behind. She growls and looks at Dreya.

"And who might this be, my dear?"

"Come now, Alia, he's harmless. He's a member of the Hippogriffs, remember?"

"Oh yeah... you guys cut my cousin's left arm off a few years back. Does the name Jonah Shortmane ring a bell?"

Crap. Crap. CRAP. This is certainly not the first time I've met a family member of an old mark, but why did it have to be an orc? I take a step back and chuckle nervously.

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"Well, yes, but I'm sure he's gotten past that, right?"

"Nope, and I'm sure he would love to hear I bagged one of the spineless frogs who took his second favorite appendage while he was trying to talk to my girl."

"Darling, just let it go, please!"

"Don't worry, Dreya, I won't rough him up too bad... I'll leave that for Jonah's hyenas."

And that was my cue to leave.

"Percival, showtime!"

With the order clear as a whistle, Percival leaps out of my arms and emits a radiant crackle of lightning straight into the orcs' eyes. With the threat momentarily disoriented, Percival flies back to my arms and we make our escape. It doesn't take long before a roar loud enough to split the street in two comes barreling after us, followed by the three orcs flinging their massive weaponry as if they were streamers from a child's birthday party.

"You're doomed, runt! Accept your fate and we'll consider making it quick."

"You'd be surprised how many times I hear that. Spoiler alert: they're always lying!"

A dagger whizzing by my head tells me that Alia and her goons won't take no for an answer, so I increase my speed, turning and twisting down the largest street at each intersection; maybe if I can find a nice crowd, I can lose them. I eventually hit a street where a small nighttime market is opening, and I find a perfect hiding spot behind an old merchant's boxes of rice and produce. When the man turns his back, I leap behind his wares, holding Percival tight to ensure not a single yelp escapes his maw. Alia's heavy boots clang on the street as she sniffs the air for her prey. She stops at the merchant and questions him with a growl.

"Have you seen a scrungly little goblin knight? Should be carrying around a scrawny lizard that sneezes lightning."

"Nay, M'lady, no such folk have crossed me path. Best I can offer you is some wares for your hunt."

Crap.

"Would ye like a few apples?"

Whether cruel joke or hapless coincidence, the merchant lifts the box of apples and reveals my head poking out from between the fruits and vegetables. The merchant squeals with shock, but Alia smiles and snaps her hand forward to grab me. Not enough room to draw my sword or jump to safety, so I immediately find myself wrapped in her paw, stinking of mead and what I hope is boar (Trust me, the other options are far, far worse).

"I expected better from the leader of the Griffs. Eh, no matter; less running for me, more fun at the family reunion."

"Is there anyway we can just forget this ever happened? Sure, I understand defending your woman's honor, but I feel this has gotten far out of hand... well, clearly it's in your hands now, but I'm sure you get the point."

"Nah, I think you're the one that's going to get the point soon," Alia chuckles and she taps the top of her axe on my forehead. Alia and her crew turn to leave, beginning their trot back to the pub, until they're stopped by three hooded figures. Alia lifts her axe and motions for them to leave.

"Out of our way. We have important business to take care of."

"Not with him you're not."

The figures remove their cowls to reveal a gargoyle, scarab, and lion-man, all in majestic armor and carrying shining weaponry; my fellow Hippogriffs. My closest friends. Rather than the usual look of fear when we make our grand entrances, Alia smiles and cracks her neck.

"Excellent! Now I can bring all four of you to my cousin for supper. You two, break 'em apart!"

Alia's goons charge at my team, hammer and mace drawn, but Heinrad already has a protection shield ready, bouncing the soldiers backwards when their weapons connect with the bubble. Now, it was Zalas' turn. She pulled her bow and readied two jet black arrows. Just as the two enemies were regaining their surroundings, Zalas released her arrows and, on impact, covered the foes in an inky goop that hardened in seconds. Nigh impossible to break; your only hope is that is disintegrates by the end of the week. Enraged, Alia straps me to her back and readies her weapon.

"Ugh, this is what happens when you let the wimps handle it! C'mon then; face the great Alia the Terrible!"

"More like Terrible Breath," I snicker, but a tightening of Alia's armor straps sends a clear message to shut up. She releases her glass-breaking Warcry and charges at the group. This time, Ember is prepared, and flies at Alia with nothing but their bare hands, scraping her cheek with their claws and pushing her into the wall face-first, to ensure I was not damaged further. Alia groans and begins to rise, but Ember is already preparing a second dive and wrenches me and Percival free from our imprisonment. Ember lands next to Heinrad and Zalas with a smile, and once I'm safely on the ground I immediately embrace my friends, albeit with a wave of confusion.

"While I am thankful for the rescue, how did you know where I was?"

"You left a copy of the map to Ironhelm on your desk with this neighborhood marked. It wasn't hard to connect it with that Shaman we met at the carnival last year, so we figured there might be some trouble."

I hang my head low. I don't know whether to be more embarrassed they had to save me from my foolishness, or that they remembered the source of said foolishness. Either way, my shame would have to wait as Alia finally collects herself.

"You're dead. You're all dead, you hear me?!"

"Maybe someday, but not right now. Take care, Lady Alia," smiles Heinrad. "Uthe Zazure!"

With the wave of his hand and a sprinkle of purple mist, our group is now in the forest surrounding Ironhelm, far from Alia's screams. Ember chuckles and slaps Heinrad on the back.

"Ah, that never gets old. Now, let's head back to the caravan and eat. We had to skip dinner to help you out of that jam, so I hope you brought an appetite for a big meal."

Ember, Zalas, and Heinrad start marching back to the caravan, but I'm fixed in the grass like a newly sprouted flower. They notice I refuse to follow and walk back, Heinrad kneeling with a sigh.

"Come now, Captain, what seems to be the problem?"

"You're... you're not mad? You just had to get into a street brawl with a bunch of Orcs because of me."

"Wh- Liam, that's our average fucking weekend. Why would we be mad just because you wanted a little me time?"

"Well, you're always telling me to stop believing in these Fates guiding my life and joking about my nonexistent love life. I... I feel like I hold you back sometimes."

My friends stare at me for a moment with sympathetic eyes. Heinrad puts his hand on my shoulder and smiles... then they all burst into laughter. I barely hold back a wave of tears as I search for an answer.

"Is this a game to you?! I'm always viewed as the big hero even though I keep screwing up and getting you guys in danger, all because I can't keep my shit together."

"Liam, that's all of us," says Zalas. "We would never discredit your feelings, but we refuse to agree that you are anything close to a screw up, or that you hold us back. I mean, you've known me and Heinrad since the Academy."

"And me since we were children," chimes in Ember. "And even when the three of us first met and wanted to kill each other, you kept us level. You've always kept us level, even when we didn't want you to. And we'll do the same for you."

"Agreed," says Heinrad. "But why do I feel like it's not just you feeling like a so-called screw-up? What else is going on? Why did you feel the need to obey what that drunk Shaman said?"

"What? She wasn't drunk!"

"She reeked of mead and you know it! Now come on, spit it out."

"Fine... As you know, I've never felt that 'tug', you know? That instant, fiery attraction. The animal feeling of wanting to bed someone and not leave for days. The passion-"

"Right, right, we get that. What of it?"

"I wanted to try to find it. See if it was possible, if the Fates wanted it, if... if I was actually broken or not."

Heinrad pulls back as if I had insulted his grandmother.

"Liam, you could never be broken! Just because you don't want to love and leave every gentleman and maiden we come across? You should never feel bad for your feelings, or lack thereof! You do not need this mythical partner just to be seen as a complete person. If a day comes and you find one, huzzah! If not, then huzzah once more! Because this is your life, and we'll be here to support you either way."

A pair of 'Ayes' rise from Zalas and Ember and all three come over to embrace. Granted, they are twice my size and I can feel my lungs collapsing from the pressure, but I allow them to hug nonetheless. Once I am released from yet another death grip, I take a deep breath and smile.

"Thank you, truly. I've felt like I was 'wrong' for not wanting it, that I had to force it by any means. I can't say that feeling is gone completely, but it's certainly on its way. I do know this, though: I love you guys, and you are truly my family."

"Same here, Mini-Marauder," jokes Ember. "Now, can we get to that food? I did not have those fish marinating for three days for nothing."

"Of course," I grin, and we begin our trek back. Suddenly, it hits me: the Shaman was right. I didn't a romantic soulmate, but I was led back to my other kind of soulmates. Through blood, tears, good food, and years of memories, I had found what I needed long ago. And no 'one great love' could ever replace them.