Kacper POV

I followed behind Quikly as we walked down the worn-down path. I walked barefoot the constant battles and running through the woods had done a number on them. I tried to find some spare shoes in the school but there were none that could fit in the lost and found. The school must have been copied from earth when it was closed. My clothing is stained with the goblin blood and my body scarred with newly healed wounds. Once I get of this island, I am going to burn my cloths and have a proper fucking wash.

I looked at the sea and the pebble covered beach reminding of Earth, surprising how similar this world is even though there are goblins, magics and ghosts. The waves smashed against the beach and the cove surrounding us, in a thousand years most likely the cliffs would have eroded but for now I could thank the cliffs for providing shelter against the harsh wind.

I turn to look at Quikly to see that he is no longer in front of me before I can start looking for him, I feel his fucking staff hitting my head. I don’t get how the bloody hell he can move so fast and why he isn’t willing to tell. Quikly starts talking before I can complain “Follow faster the training has not begun and we have to swim to get there.”

With these words he heads towards the ocean white mist emerging from his eyes surrounding him and summoning mermaids. My brain shuts down as I see beautifull women waiting in the water, they give me the look of a predator watching their prey. Well these are not Disney mermaids, I guess I was hoping for too much. They look mostly human above their hips. Fish scales cover their arms and chest, turning from a dark blue to a more pinkish colour around their stomach but look almost entirely human with their faces. Their faces are eerily beautiful, but they are not fully human lacking a pupil all of them have unnaturally beautiful light blue eyes, their ear pointed and fin like and their smiles are just a tiny bit too big revealing their needle like teeth.

Quikly steps into the water and slowly starts to wade through the mist surrounding pushing the water away. I jog after him passing through the mist wall I reach him. I walk next to him watching the eerie surroundings of snowy white mist and the deep dark blue sea. I see the shadows of the mermaids swimming around their fish tail reminding me more of constrictor snake with some added fins.

Quikly looks up at me and with a serious tone tells me “As long as I can see you, they will not attack you.” He keeps on walking allowing me to think.

I nod and ask, “Are they mermaids?” Quikly answers with a shake of his head. I look back at these creepy spirits they’re not mermaids I turn back to him “Sirens?”

Nodding he answers slowly and clearly for me to hear “I can summon spirits due to having the shaman class. Spirits are formed from emotions Tel Hasir are born from the excitement of child, Kikimora the scorn of a women. The harder to understand emotion the more powerful a spirit. Sirens are born from revenge when women are thrown into the sea to die. They wish for death of all men, but they also wish to have some fun before your death.” I look to my right and yelp as one of those fuckers is staring at me with their creepy smile and slightly too big eyes.

After some time and many feet underwater, we start walking back up the island where we reach underground cave. We climb into the cave onto the hard rock. The sirens sit at the edge of the pool we just climbed out of us staring quietly at me and Qui… no just me. I normally like a woman being interested in me, but I am pretty sure they will rape me, drown me and eat me not necessarily in that order. Quikly shouts at them to protect the cave entrance until we return the three of them, rolling their eyes and frowning dive back into the pool. I ask, “Why are we here?”

Quikly mutters again and the mist emerges from his mouth a light blue burning blue fire emerges. Two cute white eyes are on this floating fireball. I look at him quizzically, shrugging he answers “Will-o'-the-wisp represent a child’s whish for joy. Careful they like to play, and they do burn.” The wisp fly’s around the cavern and close to me a happy look on its face. Cute but also disturbing. “We are here to grind above us is a goblin tribe that come down here to find treasure.”

After this curt explanation he pulls me along with the wisp leading the way. The cave is dark with many winding tunnels and lakes filled with fishes? They were smaller than my pinkie and eyeless, but they swam like lightning tearing and consuming other schools of fish. I shook my head and started to crawl after Quikly. The journey was annoying even with the meagre light the wisp provided I had banged my head on the caves ceiling at least ten times. After a while we emerged into a large open cave filled with a giant lake in the middle. Quikly grabs be by my shirt and dispels the wisp leaving me in darkness.

“We must be careful, the tribe often comes here. Be silent and follow me we must block the main entrance, or the tribe will swamp us.” Pulling me along we stay near the cold wall and I try to stop stumbling in the dark by touching the wall. After a few minutes of cursing and being pulled along we crouch down behind some rocks. “Kacper ready your weapon I will summon spirits to block the entrance”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

I lift my hand up and say “I can’t see anything in the dark” Quikly hits me on the head with his staff, stupid asshole I bite my tongue to stop any noise escaping my mouth. A migraine hits me and my head feels woozy. Opening my eyes, I see Quiklys mask, he must have cast a spell on me for night vision, clever but did he have to hit me on the head. I peer over the rocks to see the main entrance to my north west where a bunch of goblins sit idly. A small camp at the shores of the lake to my east about 250 meters. The goblins at the camp seem to be using artificial coves to grow mushrooms and catch those blind piranhas with clubs. Counting all the goblins at the camp and entrance there was about 30 of them.

Quikly prods me in the ribs to get my attention. He starts speaking I will go for the entrance and I will let you kill what’s left behind. I nod and sit down behind the rock. I let him do the work as he sneaks closer to the entrance. Its funny that he likes killing his people more than me, he wasn’t willing to tell me anything about his past, but you can easily see they kicked him out for some reason. I mean most goblins only have a single job class and they die before reaching Lv 30. The guards might be some trouble one of them could have a combat class or even a monster class, but he should be fine. Monster classes are supposedly very rare in the civilized goblins.

I grip my bat as I hear the screams of the guards a small grin once again appears on my face. I stand up and start rushing for the camp. The goblins most likely don’t have a combat class and therefore are easy prey even for a Lv 7 War Mage. The goblin workers are scrambling through the tents grabbing anything that they can carry. Some are making a run for the tunnel as they see the spirits absolutely demolishing their protectors. The Kikimoras, Revenants and other spirits tear into the unprepared warriors. Their screams echo through the caverns as I reach the camp a goblin looks up at me fearfully.

Sorry little guy you were just to slow with a swing of my bat I end its life. Without missing a beat, I go for the next closest goblin who makes a shriek releasing whatever he was carrying. Using my Weak Mana Harden to strengthen myself I strike the goblin worker, he falls to the ground with a high pitched scream and broken arm. A second swing finishes the monster of. I look up to notice the other workers are making a run for the tunnels, with a quick glance at Quikly I notice he is doing just fine. My smirk grows into a full-blown smile as I chase after them.

Some Time Later…

I have to give credit where its due these little buggers know how to hide I only managed to three out of I think fourteen. Right now, I am crawling through a tight space as I emerge, I see a goblin. The cavern is small filled with many little ponds with holes leading out to the sea. The goblin stands in the middle with a long rust blade growling at me, I have to say I am a little intimidated it is four feet tall when Quikly is only about two and a half metre tall. He points the blade at me and then grunts as he punches the air. Is he some goblin champion? Wait how did he get here I thought Quikly blocked the entrance unless he was already here or Quickly was overwhelmed.

An arrow fly’s past me as I see a bunch of goblins hiding behind rocks. Only the champion stands without any protection. The three archers ready the bow almost daring me to move. The champion barks an order at them and they slowly move away. Let me guess this is a mini-boss and he wants to personally fuck me up. He turns back to me and then activates an ability his body tenses up and he seem to grow bigger. In a blink of an eye he rams me with his shoulder smashing me into the fucking wall.

My ribs crack and my head smashes into the wall, blood and bile erupt from my mouth. He doesn’t jump back for a strike with his blade and instead bites me deep in the shoulder. I scream as more blood comes flooding out of my mouth.I star coughing and sputtering more blood as he opens his mouth and steps away. Falling to my knees I feel a feel woozy as the world starts to shake.

Goblin Chief/Champion: Has dealt 10 bludegoning damage and 3 peircing damage inflicting Toxic Bite Toxic Bite mental effects have been resisted by Stuff Upper Lip. Toxic Bite major debuff to Stamina and Vitality. Poison damage will be dealt over time.

A second later my senses return to normal as I grip onto my bat. No I don't I dropped it when he rammed me didn’t I. I look at his grin as he lifts his blade to plunge it into my head. The blade will surly kill me I try and too move but my arms buckle under me. The sword plunges into my shoulder, I hear the goblins laughing these fuckers are playing with me. I try and stand but he just twists the blade deeper in. Black sports start appearing before my eyes as the debuff weakens me and another bloody debuff appears before my eyes. I dont want to die to a bunch of goblins.

Not Dead Yet has activated due to being in a hopeless situation.

Instantly everything becomes clearer and easier. The pain is still strong but its bearable with speed and strength that surprises me I grab the champions leg pulling it out nocking him down onto the floor. Battered I get up and feel the blade dislodging from the wound it clatters on the ground fuck that hurts. The champion once again rams into me pushing me few feet away. I punch the bastard in the face breaking his nose. A wide smile grows on my face until I notice there are still archer and they are readying their bows.

My momentary distraction allows the champion to grab the sword and he manages to lift it ready to strike me. I grab the blade with both hands not by the handle but by the blade. I am fucking scream as I pull out the blade injuring my hands. The arrows start flying and one of them strikes my thigh. In the heat of the moment I jump into the closest pool of water shredding my hands in the process as I start swimming through the salty water burning my open wounds. Still holding on to the blade I swim for the tunnel.

Well good news the goblins won’t kill me but disease, blood loss, mutant piranhas and whatever monster lives in the sea will.