What were the chances the princess summoned him just to poison him with tea? Nonsensical at first, you might think but People of royal blood had all manner of strange fetishes and kinks. Or perhaps Garrick was the dirty one.

“Do you like it, Mr.Grubbub? Is it to your taste”

He better not say anything to offend her.

“Sure, I love tea, all kinds of tea. Your Highness”

“Really?” she expressed with glee. He nodded, attempting to be as polite as possible. “I did not know they brewed tea in the mines of Kara-dum, or in its barracks. In fact, I thought there was an import ban placed on its residents and merchants for operating in former human lands for the past two decades. Then there is the class system implemented for decades, tea should not be for sale to a mere goblin. At least according to this stronghold's laws.”

Oh shit

“The Goblin known as grubbub, in his twenty years of life, has never tasted nor touched tea in his lifetime. So who are you, sir…”

He laughed nervously…but said nothing. The cat was out of the bag.

“I apologize for your highness. I was simply lying to preserve your approval.

Her face stiffened.

“I have no need for bootlickers. You would lie to a future queen, not Grubbub.”

He swallowed hard, he did this to himself. Still, what could she possibly want from him?

“Hahaha, you got me.”

“Your worst mistake was feigning your identity, did you play that card any further, it would have serious consequences going forward.”

“I was hoping it would be a get-out-of-jail free card, when I said this to the interrogator, dumb goblin hit his head, he’s saying weird stuff, maybe we should let him go type conversation.”

“You’ve been watched since you got out of that hole, Mr. Garrick. Do you think it’s a mere coincidence that you stumbled upon me? Any other goblin wouldn’t dare touch me if it could mean certain death and yet you did. Not even the average hobgoblin servants are so bold.”

And she knew his name but how did she know? He pretended not to hear.

“No, know that you mentioned it, the last few days have been coincidental. I was supposed to be stuck with the interrogator but was removed. There was that hobgoblin that was nice to me, and then there was the sudden fight I found myself in. Then I was conscripted, which I don't know whether to call a blessing or a curse. As I probably would've been garrisoning the walls right now.”

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

He didn’t mention the shadowy presence that helped him, whether it was for good or bad. Who knows how she might respond?

“Let me cut to the chase,” she said very impatiently while sipping tea. “I am a Seer, I see things, I see the future, I know you were born in that well if we can call it that, I know the darkness that stalks you and laughs as you do its whims.”

“You seem to know a lot.”

It didn't surprise him, he did just get his bearings on the world stage.

“As I said.”

“Let’s excuse goblin customs and formalities, introduce yourself, who are you?”

“My name is Garrick, no last name, formerly human, just trying to make it by.” He was very nonchalant, unsure of where to take this. She didn’t seem to care at all.

“Too fast, how did you come to possess in little Grubbub’s body.”

“I died while working in a warzone. Artillery shell landed on my boat and I woke up here, in the body of your subjects.”

“What kind of Artillery? And the goblins of Kara-dum aren’t my subjects, the overseers are loyal to my father yes.” she shook her head, forgetting her her own aim.”Regardless, those old wells are tunnels built by the old human city that used to sit here, There are dangerous creatures, that lurk down there, and some of the government of Kara-dum have reason to dispose of them. How did you escape.”

He pondered she already knew of the stalking shadow.

“I was helped.” he kept it simple.

“By who?”

“The presence, the entity, always there when I need it.”

“Hmmm…”

He wondered if she would inquire further about but she dropped it there, did she know what it was?

“There’s a human army outside, siege at the gate, aren’t you supposed to prepare or something, hide in an evacuation chamber, some secret entrance?” he asked.

Questioning why she was enjoying tea when a catapulted rock could land through the roof.”

“No, I already know what will happen. I can see paths forward, this is the only one where we both live in. For some reason, my fate has been tied to yours. Like an inseparable knot.”

He sat in silence not knowing what to say. How very convienient. The possibility of the last two weeks being a simulation was still strong in him.

“I’m sorry, I fail to see how I can protect you. I can barely harness this thing called mana.”

He caught the gleam of her.

“And you have already used it a few times, you’re clearly talented.”

“Are you sure you need me here? You have massive guards guardian this chamber. What do you need this silly gob for? And it’s not like the stronghold will fall, i was told that this a normal occurrence every month”

“Oh it will fall, I foresaw it, The humans will kill about 95% of all goblins, green or red. My father will die in battle, I have already mourned him. I am simply waiting. However, you're needed here for a brighter future.”

"That's fucked up."

"Indeed."

"I've never had a green goblin with tea before, my father never allowed it, he described your kinds like, and yet. Every hoblin and greeny for an ancestor."

He shook his head, sipping on the tea offered by her. Outside the sounds military marches grow heavier, and even he could feel something big is coming. He knew he should’ve chosen exile as a better option at least he would be free and not caught in…whatever this is.

She smiled at him. For a brief moment, his cheeks flushed and he imagined himself, serving her until he withers away.

A weird fantasy Garrick...

She had an effect on him and he felt compelled to her every whim.

“Tell me about your world, your home i’m curious. About this so-called planet dirt."

"You mean Earth..."