“I finally found you, you little pest.” The young man who spat those words out like venom pointed his blade at the little one; his gaze focused on him and him alone. His attire resembled what one would think to belong to the medieval stages. His wool clothes were crudely knitted together and adorned with leather armor plates and a green cloak to go with it. He stepped off his horse and silently approached the goblin, who started trembling upon seeing the man approaching him, the look of fear on his face palpable. He took a step back, resolving to run away.
“Stop right there, young one.” Marianne said loudly enough for him to hear yet calm enough not to show immediate aggression. He turned his head towards her, only now noticing her presence.
“Who are you, and what are you doing outside the kingdom?” He exclaims, having temporarily stopped his advance toward the goblin yet still pointing his sword at him, communicating that he will attack him if he takes even a single step back.
“Hmm, so we do speak the same language. That is reassuring to know.” Marianne thinks to herself before deciding what to say next. “I see… so this isn’t the afterlife after all.”
“My name is Marianne Alorn. I’m lost and don’t know how I arrived at this location. She stated simply and briefly. She wasn’t sure what was going on. However, she was sure her words would decide whether this would be a life-or-death situation. So, she stuck to revealing what little she could say as plainly honest as she can.
“You don’t know, you say.” Looking skeptically at her. “You should be aware that this is land that regular citizens are not allowed to enter. Leaving the cities is a major offense.”
So, she illegally trespassed over forbidden territory? Not knowing how severe this supposed punishment could be, she decided to play along.
“It was not my intention. I don’t know what truly happened, but I was brought here against my will.” At least she wasn’t lying.
“Intentionally or not, this offense will be decided by the authorities. You have placed yourself in unimaginable danger by being here. As you can see, this goblin could have easily killed you had I not intervened, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to become its next meal.” He said dryly.
Marianne thought that it might be the other way around. The little one was utterly harmless, and this man could very well point his blade at her if this didn’t go well. Despite his words of surface-level concern, she is sure that this man couldn’t care less what happens to her.
“I thank you for your heroic efforts, then.” She said, bowing her head to him, trying to sound as genuine as she possibly could in response to his cold demeanor.
“Anyway, step back. I need to slay this beast now.” He commanded, redirecting his gaze on the poor creature, who scrambled to run away in vain.
“Stop.” She says firmly, making both figures stop their actions, as the swordsman, having dropped the façade of civility, looks toward her with an ice-cold expression.
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“Excuse me, did you say something?” He asks calmly.
“Leave the poor thing alone.” She commanded.
“Do you mean this goblin? Are you alright in the head, old bat? This man-eating beast almost killed you.”
“The little one hasn’t harmed me in the slightest.”
“I’m slaying the beast. Say anything more, and you will regret it.”
“Enlighten me, young man. How so?”
He looks back at her, gesturing towards his sword. “You might become an unfortunate victim I couldn’t save in time.”
“So, that youngster dropped the mask entirely.” She cynically thought to herself.
She walks closer, daring him to attack. “Then it means that he is not the beast I need to look out for, isn’t he? It seems to be you, my dear.” She attempted to provoke him, and it seemed to work as he slowly lowered his sword to look at her indignantly. He starts to head towards her slowly.
If he decides to engage, she will die. However, she doesn’t mind the risk. Saving a young soul in exchange for her own withered life. This only makes sense.
“Get out of my sight, or I’ll slash your head cleanly off.” He threatens in a low voice. He seems to be furious.
“I’m afraid I cannot do that.” It seems there is no going back now.
Just as he was about to raise his sword, a voice came from behind.
“Stop! Please leave her alone!” Both of them turn their heads toward the owner of the voice. It is the goblin.
“So, he does speak.” She smiled warmly as that thought crossed her mind despite the situation.
He was trembling. Terribly so. And yet he tried his best to stand upright and confidently.
He continued. “I-It’s just me you want, right? She has nothing to do with me, and, um, I surrender. Just please, don’t hurt her!” He was on the verge of tears.
The man’s expression remained stoic, and his murderous intent didn’t subside.
“Silence, beast!” He turned around and shouted those words with intense fury, startling the poor thing. The meaning of the words themselves, said by the goblin, hasn’t reached this man. Only the fact that this despicable creature used human words against him. Pretending to know the meaning behind the words, it spouted in a desperate plea for survival.
Just as he was about to turn toward the old woman behind him, he experienced intense pain, enough to make him drop his sword and drop to his knee. She kicked him in the groin. “Y-You old bitch!” He shouted, wincing in pain. While he couldn’t move, she quickly picked up the sword he dropped. It was far too heavy for her to use, so instead, she threw it away from him and ran in the opposite direction towards the goblin, who just stood there in shock, telling him in a commanding voice. “Run! Don’t let him catch you, child!”
He flinched and did as she said. However, he had difficulty running in this frail state, so she decided to pick him up and carry him in her arms. Thankfully, he was extremely light.
“Get back here!” The man shouted at the top of his lungs, struggling to get up.
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They managed to find a decent hiding spot to rest for the time being. It was a small cave she was barely able to discover while running, so he would have some difficulty finding them. Luckily, it started to rain outside, making them even less visible. The day started turning to dusk, enveloping them in the cloak of night, so it is highly likely that he abandoned the search for now.
"My, oh my, that man must be fuming that a frail old woman was able to escape him. I certainly would have been embarrassed were I in his position." She thought, chuckling with devilish glee.
She turns her head toward the goblin, who is finally calming down from the stress.
“Now then, little one. Don’t be afraid, you’re safe.” She reassured the goblin, who was still trembling, if only slightly. He turned his head toward her with an uneasy look in his eyes, likely still deliberating how much he could trust her.
She squatted down to meet him at an even eye level and asked him softly. “May I know your name?”