《Excursion Book 1, The Goblin Curse. First arc.》


 Chapter 1 Shadows of the past

    The Winds are howling from the east, bringing in the chill air and fresh water scent from the river known as Allan Fold. From the west, lies the northern edge of the woods known as Leaf Ocean. From the south, following a silhouette of a hunched, hooded man, dragging behind him 2 full-grown dead men almost twice the size of the hooded figure himself. The bodies have cuts and bruises, long dried out hence the bodies have long entered the rigor mortis stage. One would think the bodies would be heavy for a short man to drag, especially since his arms are slender, and yet he carries on with ease.


    He has been traveling for a few hours, showing no signs of weariness and fatigue, looking ahead of him, the vast plains of Unum. Before he is able to see the southern reaches of Boarmane Mountains, he halts as he views his surroundings, only to find traces of a campfire long put out due to having enough illumination of a full moon. He scans around, and notices nearby an oak tree, stands a seven foot tall man staring off to the northern plains. He is wearing a suit of full plated armor, showing little covering of dark purple long sleeved clothing. His hair, black and gray, sways alongside with the wind and his brown cloak.


    ¡°It¡¯s been forever ago since I¡¯ve been to this side of the country¡±, said the 7 foot tall man, as he turns his head to the west staring off into the distance, revealing his lightly tan face full of scars, and a fully grown black and gray beard. "I wonder what lies beyond this frontier¡­.¡± he ponders.


    ¡°More plains, woods and many streams, if one is lucky to travel enough, one would find ruins from an ancient civilization that fell from a time of the gods.¡± Said the hooded figure with a grunt shortly afterwards. He drags the bodies near the campfire and releases his grip.


    He straightens his back, standing about four and a half feet tall looking up to the tall man, ¡°The goblins are ready for the assault, and these decoys¡­.¡± He peers to the bodies, ¡°Should be enough of a distraction, plus the ones I left behind¡± He chuckles.


    ¡°Were you seen?¡± The tall man asked as he turns around, facing the hooded figure and the corpses of the soldiers lying on the ground.


    ¡°Only by this one¡­ ¡± He grins as he kicks the body left of him, followed up with a spat.


    ¡°Good, how many goblins have you gathered up?¡± The tall man asked while keeping his fixed gaze upon the hooded one.


    ¡°¡­.A little over fifty¡± The short hooded one answered after pondering.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Only fifty? Will that be enough?¡± The Tall man asked with slight disdain.


    The hooded figure chuckles again and lowers his hood, revealing himself to be a bald headed goblin, with very pale skin, he cocks his head to the side and grins with his arms up and palms flattened, ¡°Do not underestimate the rage of the goblins.¡± He points up to the sky with one finger of his right hand.


    ¡°With my magic, I can bring out the hidden strength of these goblins¡­. With this, they will buy you enough time for you to find the seal for our mission.¡± With the same hand, he cups his chin and looks to the left, with his right eye fixated on the tall man. ¡°Of course there is a catch to this¡­ Curse¡­¡±


    ¡°Curse? Sounds more like a blessing to me.¡± The tall man said, crossing his arms, raising his head to confirm the pale goblin to continue his monologue.


    ¡°Far from it, unless one presses on with a strong will such as me¡­¡± The goblin scoffed as he closes his eyes and lifts his head up, to face the moon. ¡°A curse, bestowed upon the goblins by an ancient goblin god, days of old and long gone too, his curse¡­ his power still holds strong to the goblins to this very day¡­ even if they¡¯re not blood related to him¡­¡± He opens his eyes as he takes in a deep breathe.


    ¡°You speak as if you¡¯re not a goblin yourself?¡± The tall man cocks a curious eye to the smirking pale goblin.


    ¡°The catch is, after the goblin that unleashed the curse¡¯ power upon itself and fulfills that of which triggered the curse, they will wither away into dust¡­. Most have died out that way, I however have not!¡± The pale goblin trails off to the south, holding his hood in his hands and peers towards the tall man. ¡°All that¡¯s left to do, is to march them off from the southern wood to swarm the south of the town. Of course not all of them will attack in one spot, there will be a group or 2 looming from the sides.¡±


    ¡°Good, we will attack right at noon; do you remember where in town our rendezvous spot is at Glenn?¡± The tall man calmly asked.


    ¡°Yes, Lord Karr¡­ it will be tedious for me to be there without being seen, especially since there¡¯s mages out and about, but I will be there¡­ after all you¡¯ll need me to break that seal.¡± Glenn covers his head with his grey hood and trails off to the south. ¡°And for that, I am off. Until we meet again, lord Karr.¡± Glenn, then runs off to the southwest.


    ¡°We¡¯ll definitely have to keep an eye on that one, we will¡­.. Of my many years in the military of this country, I have never seen a strange goblin such as him¡­¡± Karr shakes his head and looks at the two dead bodies of the patrolmen bearing the sigil of two roses attached to the same oval thorn on their upper right side of the chainmail armor, reminiscing the time when he, too was a soldier proud fully bearing the same crest.


    ¡°Do not take it personally young ones¡­ Your sacrifices will not be in vain, soon there will be no more meaningless wars with the new world, to come¡­¡± He then Trails off to the southeast, against the wind, cloak fluttering to reveal his Kite Shield bearing a symbol of a black serpent dragon.

 Chapter 2 Outlaw of the town

    The morning sun shines brightly through the windows, illuminating enough light in this classroom of twenty young men and women wearing brown leather coats with hoods, but all the hoods are down. The front of the cloaks stop at waist down, but the back goes on to the back ankles of their boots. The coats bear many pockets, four on the chest, one on each sleeve, and one on each side of the waste.


    They also wear dark blue cargo pants, tucked into their brown boots with the boot strings. Between the coat and pants, they wear a grey utility belt bearing the symbol of the two roses on the oval made of thorns. This is the symbol of the country these young magicians serve, known as Unum.


    The classroom is about one hundred feet in diameter, the center of the north wall, stands a wooden door, four feet wide, eight feet tall. Hinges revealed to be made of steel and the door knob brass. There are two windows, one on each side of the door resting on the wooden wall with lime colored curtains open. The walls are painted white with light golden frames all around the room.


    The floor is made of oaken wood, still revealing planks that are well kept clean. The ceiling bears an eight foot diameter chandelier made of metal panted gold, hanging down ten feet from a forty foot ceiling centered from the left and right sides of the room, but twenty feet from the south side of the room. The east and west side of the rooms hold four windows on each wall, evenly spaced out and about five feet below the ceiling, each window being three feet wide and five feet long.


    From the door to the first row of seats sharing the same long wooden desk, is about twenty feet apart. The next row is about three feet below in height and spacing another about ten feet from the first row of seats, to the next row of seats. There are a total of five rows, repeating the same ten foot distance until the final row. From the final row is about thirty feet from the southern wall.


    In the center of the rows, runs a ten foot wide stairway going to the final floor from the first floor. The center of the southern wall holds a door of the same design and material from the northern door, minus the hinges are not in the side of the classroom. About ten feet from the western wall and five feet from the southern wall is where the classroom instructor¡¯s desk lies. From the eastern wall about five feet and five feet from the south, stands a chalk board about ten feet wide bearing words and symbols still and currently being written by the instructor of the class.


    The Instructor is wearing the same kind of clothing as the apprentice mages in the classroom except his coat is a dark blue, matching the cargo pants and having light gold linen. He stands up to six feet and two inches tall, his skin is black, his hair also black with long tied up dreads running down from a pony tail to a few inches below his back neck. He looks to be in his mid-thirties; his body is well physique and moves in a stoic manner. He is wearing square lens glasses and speaks in a strong and stern accent as he gives out his lectures to the students in the class.


    He turns around after his long speech and scans around the class room, assessing who among his students are paying attention. Most of his apprentices are eyeing him with upmost respect and waiting for him to continue; a couple of them are jotting down notes and eyeing the board. One however, the youngest looking apprentice and noticeable out of all of them, appears to be reading a book of the class¡¯ material, but he seems to be too deep in his book, he¡¯s not even paying attention to his surroundings nor noticing the classroom fell silent.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    The apprentice next to him has short black hair that goes down to the back of her neck, white skin that hardly has seen the light of day, amber eyes and has freckles on her face. She glances to what he¡¯s reading, then looks to the instructor and nods her head in disapproval to the instructor. The Instructor lets out a sigh and waves his hands around focusing a spot above the apprentice¡¯s head. He mutters a few gibberish words that somehow go together for a few seconds then stops!


    The moment he opens his hands, a snowball forms from the air above the boy and falls on his head, resulting the child to drop his book, revealing another book but smaller which appears to be unrelated to the teachings of the classroom whatsoever. The child has blonde hair well combed to the back minus a few strands covering his right eye; his eyes are a deep emerald green. His skin is white, with hints of light tan showing that he has been out in the sun more often, compared to most of the apprentices in the classroom.


    He jumps up to dust off the snow off his head and clothes, while most of the apprentices started to snicker; the others just glare at him, especially the apprentice next to him. As he stands straight, he stands to be four foot eleven tall. ¡°Oh com¡¯on teach, doing that sorta thane will make me catch a cold, it¡¯ll make this lil ole star of the town not show up if I develop a fever I reckon.¡±


    Before the instructor would say anything, he¡¯s already looking at the young woman next to the child. She stands up, barely a foot higher than the boy, presenting an irritated look on her face.He expects what will happen next between the woman and the boy, like he has seen this scene play out a hundred times before.


    ¡°Apprentice Lancelin! How dare you waste not only all of our time here, but our well respected instructor Korahk! He takes his time teaching all of us even you the fundamentals of magic, but instead you sit here reading your fantasy ¡®western novels¡¯ every day, speaking like some bumbling fool!¡± Before Lancelin could respond to any of her sentences, she just runs off with another sentence.


    ¡°Easy ma¡¯am, my words are not merely just¡­¡± Muttered Lancelin, until he was again interrupted by the young woman.


    ¡°And that accent! I¡¯ll admit it was cute in the beginning but after a while, it has gotten old!¡± As she sighs from venting out her long speech, Lancelin narrows his eyes up towards her as if he¡¯s expecting what she is about to say in disappointment.


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that you are more talented than all of us in this room at magic which is to be expected of the legendary Lancelin family, but at least act like one! The fact that someone as gifted as you showing lack of motivation is so infuriating! It even starts to affect some of us negatively on even trying our best as mages¡­¡± As she finished her speech, around the room the other apprentices nod their heads in agreements.


    As for Lancelin, he has been staring at her with a cold blank stare that shows he gave up even trying to argue let alone reason with her since she said the words, ¡®Legendary Lancelin family¡¯ as if that was a trigger to him.


    Before tensions get worse, Korahk calmly but firmly calls out to the two of them, ¡°That¡¯s enough you two! Apprentice Lancelin, you may wait in my office until this class is dismissed.¡±


    Lancelin does his best to keep a cool smile while he reaches around his chair to pull out a brown cowboy hat that matches his coat with his right hand and places it on his head. While holding onto it, he looks to Korahk and says, "Much obliged gov¡¯ner, it is about time for this outlaw to retire till noon.¡±


    He turns around after lowering his right hand while keeping his head straight he fixes his eyes to the young woman and tilts his hat lower with his left hand and acknowledges her by saying, ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± Then he heads off to the stairway.


    As he walks down, he catches passing by conversations of the other apprentices¡¯ whispers talking about him such as ¡®annoying¡¯, ¡®of course he can get away with it, he¡¯s a Lancelin after all¡¯ and ¡®He might as well not even show up for the daily target practices¡­¡¯ while he¡¯s keeping a calm smirk on his face, as he exits the southern side of the classroom door.

 Chapter 3 Life in the shadow of fame

    The sun shines slightly higher in the classroom, showing that some time has passed by. Korahk finished his rounds of gathering the apprentices¡¯ paperwork of a test matching ancient text that are defined by the words that the mages use for incantations.


    He heads to his office door, the one where Lancelin walked into an hour ago but stops to look and make sure that the northern door is closed, after releasing the apprentices to their magic practice. He opens his door and walks into his office.


    His office is about from the left wall to the right forty feet wide. From the door to the other side, about forty five feet long. The walls are made up of pine wood bearing neither paint nor designs whatsoever. The floor also made of the same material, but is mostly covered by lime green carpet that matches the curtains on the windows in this room. He has a couple of book shelves surrounding a window on his left.


    The books are well organized from alphabetized and coloration. In front of the books however are cluttered up with all kinds of items and tools that are commonly used by magicians of any caliber such as; different colored/sized feathers, skull heads of various animals, vials and potions that are either empty or filled in various colors, small bowls with powdered materials and etc.


    To the right side of the room, lies a well-polished oaken table to the left of the window. It holds a stack of papers on the lower left corner of it, behind it lays vials of ink and quills lined up. Taking the center and the right of the table is covered up with an empty alembic and a large iron bowl filled with crushed herbs and an iron ladle.


    On the right side of the window lie two wooden wheeled cabinets. The one on the right is closed, holding stacks of paper and a couple of boxes of chalk. The one on the left has its door open revealing lined up empty vials being help by racks. On top of the left cabinet lies another alembic that is over a steel bowl, attached to it and the cabinet by steel rails and yet both the alembic and bowl are empty. Standing at the corner of the right wall and entrance wall is chalk board on wheels that¡¯s much smaller than the one in the class room.


    At the back of the office has a wooden slide in door, which is open revealing it to be a closet of sorts bearing a couple of the same blue coats, a few old brown coats of different sizes and some crates lined up on the floor.


    A pictured painted frame on the left of the closet door shows many people in brown coats lined up, which one of them appears to be a younger version of Korahk and one blue coated woman on their far right. The blue coated woman has similar facial features as Lancelin, the same green eyes but her hair is light brown. Below the painting is the same rose symbol with the words, (Master Magician Kentavious Korahk. An honoree magician of the Unum Country.). The painting on the right of the closet shows the map of the country of Unum.


    As Korahk enters the room, he looks to his left and studies his deer head trophy that he was so proud of from his first time hunting down an animal with a crossbow and no magic, only to find Lancelin¡¯s cowboy hat hanging on one of its antlers. He looks to the center of the room, where his desk and three chairs are at.


    One chair behind the desk and the other two in front. The desk is made of oaken wood, on top of it lays a few stacks of papers, ink bottle and quill, a six inch lime green unlit candle stick on a lamp made of steel and a large red book. All three chairs are made of oaken wood as well, but the one behind the desk is slightly larger and has steel wheels on the bottom plus is set to easily turn around.


    On the left chair front of the desk, Lancelin lies with his back slouched asleep with his legs crossed and resting on the other chair. A book rested on his face hiding him from the sunlight to help undisturbed his rest.


    Korahk lightly closes the door and walks towards the back of his desk. He shuffles his papers to align them properly, and then places them on his book on the desk. The sudden shuffling roused Lancelin to his mumbling stage, shortly before Korahk sat down on his chair. He straightens his back upright, pulls out a glasses protector case from his top right coat pocket just to fold his glasses up and gently places them inside then closed the case up and placed it back into his pocket.


    At that moment he slightly slouches and rests his head on his right fist against his armchair and breathes in a deep breath while looking at his apprentice. ¡°Zee Zee Zee, what are we going to do with you?¡± He released his breathe through that sentence as he slightly shakes his head keeping his gaze fixated on Lancelin.


    ¡°Teach, you know it¡¯s a bit improper to address each other by our first names.¡± Lancelin said with a smirk while lifting his book with his left hand.


    ¡°We¡¯re at our fifteen minute break; everyone should be getting ready to form up at the practice field right about now. Zee¡­ what is going on with you? I know that you¡¯re fully aware of how magic works, heck I¡¯ve seen your abilities of how easily you can manipulate it. Are my classes that boring to you? If so then just bear with it, you will learn much about it and even things that you may have questions about or not even thought of. So tell me, what is the matter Zee?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Zee straightens up and changed his smirk to a blank look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s not that your lectures are boring or anything, honestly I¡¯ve learned many things thanks to your teachings¡­¡± Zee stated clearly, only to mumble little during the last half of his sentence as he peered to his left.


    ¡°Then tell me Zee¡­.. What is the problem?¡± Korahk asked as he straightened up his posture. Zee got up off his seat and slightly walked to the left window and looked through it.


    He sees an open field of dirt, with a few rows of practice dummies made of tightened up twigs. Before them for a good 20 feet of the first row, he sees half the people in his class and of course he sees the young woman that lectured him out earlier. ¡°It¡¯s how they all view me¡­..¡± Zee said as he placed his left arm on the window sill.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let their words get to you, they¡¯re just trying to..¡± Before Korahk finishes his sentence Zee cuts him off.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just them!¡± He turns to look at Korahk and then looks over him towards the map of the world. ¡°Everyone, this town... The elder...¡± He scoffs as he looks back through the window. ¡°This world¡­ They all view me as the rightful heir of this country¡¯s renowned family of mages¡­ The Lancelins¡­ but not as me for me¡­¡±


    Korahk stands up from his chair and walks towards Zee, bends on one knee to be almost at even eye level and looks to Zee and speaks. ¡°Then learn for you, not for your family name. Of course everyone knows of your grandfather being the founding country¡¯s arch mage, and your father coming up as the second arch mage during the civil war. But you¡­ You have a gift, a power that is different and far surpasses your father, and I¡¯m positive even surpasses your grandfather too. Even your sister, Zamora Lancelin¡­ She was born without an affinity for magic like your heritage does, but she proved to the country that with hard work and dedication you can persevere through most difficulties. She started off during the civil war as a private sword wielder, and now she made it as a captain in this time of peace.¡±


    Zee looks to the ground, ¡°I remember the stories, and heard a lil bit of it when I was a toddler of how people looked down on her for not inheriting the family powers.¡± Then he looks back to Korahk with a blank look on his face. ¡°As for her reward, everyone kept saying, ¡®as expected of a Lancelin¡¯.¡± He was about to head towards the door, but was suddenly stopped by Korahk¡¯s left hand on his left shoulder.


    ¡°Zee¡­ There are a few things wrong with your statements, one ¡­. For starters you can¡¯t just view this country as the world, there¡¯s more to it¡­. A lot more to it, believe me. Two, you know how much pain and suffering your sister had to go through. The fact that your father practically resented her for not being a ¡®True Lancelin¡¯ and blaming your mother for being the possible reason that she didn¡¯t inherit the power because of her genes. Even after your parents¡¯ death, it was far worse for her especially without your mother to support her.¡±


    He looks to his graduation picture on the wall, and focused his gaze to the lady in the blue coat. ¡°Your mother was a very supportive person to your sister, and not just your sister but to everyone. Even to me in my times of trouble.¡± He stands up firmly still looking at the picture then towards Zee while smiling.


    ¡°And I¡¯ll be here for you in this time of troubles as well, just remember that not everyone views you as a Lancelin, but as Zee.¡± He changes his smile to a sad look on his face as he pats Zee¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Not a day goes by that I don¡¯t think of your parents since their deaths ten years ago¡­ It was hard for everyone¡­ This country lost two of its greatest treasures.¡±


    Zee looks with his left eye to Korahk. "I do thank you and uncle Rufus for watching over me these past ten years, as for my sister¡­¡± He looks down. ¡° I can¡¯t say the same about her¡­¡± Zee said as he closed his eyes.


    Korahk lifts his hand off of Zee and raises it with his palm opened up. ¡°Cut her some slack, she had orders by her superiors. If she had the time to spend with you, she would¡¯ve.¡± Korahk ends the sentence with a wry smile.


    Zee remembers the times when Zamora used to lash out at him for being born with the Lancelin influence with magic. ¡°I suppose so¡­¡± He stomached to avoid any longer conversation. He opens his eyes and reaches for his hat with his right hand as his left hand attempts to turn the door knob.


    He places his hat on his head and grabs the door with his right hand as it opens from the momentum of his left hand, he turns to Korahk and speaks, ¡°Thank you uncle Kent for this eye opening conversation, but for now I have places to be¡­¡± He tilts his hat with his left hand and starts to head out the door.


    ¡°Zee, will you consider at least, to focus onto your studies? I can assure you that it will be good for you. Who knows, maybe after you served your years in the military you could travel the world out there. There¡¯s a lot to explore you know, and with more knowledge of magic, you¡¯ll be much safer out there.¡± Korahk waits for an answer as Zee looks down and then back up to the stairway of the classroom and smiled with his eyes closed thinking of the thought of venturing out to the possible untouched lands, like the characters in his books.


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about, it will take some time uncle Kent but, I¡¯ll think about it.¡± He opens his eyes and walks up the stairway with his hands in his cargo pockets.Shortly afterwards, Zee opened and closed the northern doors.


    Korahk looks to the picture and smiles. ¡°Was I that difficult and stubborn to you too when I had trouble with my fellow classmates for being the only foreigner around? It must be a thing, among young people these days." He walks towards his desk reminiscing the time when he was young and being lectured by his instructor.


    He opens his desk up to pull out his clipboard with a blank piece of paper and stuffs a vial of black ink into his right cargo pocket and puts his glasses on from his right chest pocket before placing a quill inside the same pocket. ¡°It is time I am off and watch over the new generation of mages¡¯ work.¡± He looks out the same window that Zee was looking out from.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure he¡¯s going to skip this practice run, but it¡¯s probably for the best, he needs some time away from them. Still, I hope he doesn¡¯t get in trouble.¡± He smiles wryly then changes it to a serious stoic look and heads on out of his office, closes the door and locks it up.

 Chapter 4 The Dynamic Duo

    To the east side of Golden Glade town, following a downhill slope there¡¯s a boy lying on the grass, looking up to the partly clouded sky. He has short brown hair covering his most of his white skinned face and light blue eyes. He appears to be four feet and five inches tall. He¡¯s wearing a brown leather jacket, the same color and same pockets as the magician¡¯s coat. It¡¯s opened up to reveal a black tunic with a chest belt carrying a hand dagger sheathed on it.


    He wears the exact same waistline utility belt the magicians wore too. The same blue cargo pants and boots as well. This young man is wearing the generic uniform of a non-magician soldier of this country. Some soldiers have crossbow bolts on their bandolier, others like this one just have a dagger or two sheathed on it. At the back of this boy¡¯s waistline belt, he has a sheathed broadsword equipped to it. He is also wearing leather gloves with metal plating¡¯s; even he has metal plating¡¯s knee pads. His outfit has a few dirt spots here and there, he even has some bruises on his lightly tanned face.


    He is gazing into the morning sky, watching the clouds drift by and smelling the fresh water scent from the Allan Fold River. He is guessing it¡¯s starting to reach noon since the sun is almost midway in the sky. He closes his eyes enjoying the peaceful wind, easily ignoring his aching bruised body as if this was a common every day kind of routine.


    He notices there¡¯s something, or someone, blocking his sunlight due to a shadow suddenly appearing directly on him. He opens his eyes and sees a boy wearing the magicians¡¯ uniform and a cowboy hat, tilting his hat with his left hand while his right is in his right cargo pocket.


    ¡°Howdy¡­Pard¡¯ner¡­¡± Zee said with a smile on his face.


    The brown haired boy smiles brightly despite his bruising on his face and pulls his legs up almost into a fetal position and jumps up from that spot, turns around and while maintaining his composure. "Zee!¡± He yells and runs up towards him up hill.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be released early! So, what¡¯s the occasion?!¡± The brown haired boy asked with excitement.


    Zee glanced at his face and noticed his bruises; he tries to keep the same cool smile while thinking how this boy got the bruises. ¡°Well you see my ole friend, Mister Jake Reeves. They wanted this sheriff of the town to go out and hunt down some outlaws that may be causing some trouble around these here parts. So I came over here to fetch my deputy.¡± He reaches his hand out to Jake and eyes him to join.


    ¡°You¡¯re skipping a lesson again aren¡¯t you Zee?¡± Jake asked while shaking his head, chuckling and crossing his arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s not skipping when my skills are too good to be wanted over there.¡± Zee answered coyly.


    ¡°Trouble with you and that girl again?¡± Jake asked while smiling wryly.


    ¡°Pretty much. I think she¡¯s in love with me or something, seeing as how I get on her nerves every day and yet she sits right next to me all the time.¡± Zee answered while raising both of his arms, palms open wide and eyes closed while smiling and shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure she is too old for you, old enough to be an older sister at least. She¡¯s just trying to keep you in check.¡± Jake said with a smirk.


    Zee opens his eyes while looking blankly at the town. ¡°A common trait that she would share with my sister I suppose¡­¡± He mumbled.


    Jake looked at Zee with a puzzled look on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t catch that, what did you say?¡±


    Zee looks to Jake and continues his confident smile on his face. ¡°I was just mumbling to myself it was nothing.¡± He spotted Jake¡¯s bruises and continues talking. ¡°The drill instructor went rodeo on you again?¡± He asked while smiling wryly.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Not this time, instead he had the whole group get into a contest of who can knock me out first. Surprisingly I lasted much longer than the last time he held that!¡± Jake responded as Zee looked at him with a sour look.


    ¡°Did you at least fight back?¡± Zee asked knowing what the answer would be.


    Expecting word for word what Jake would say as he says it. ¡°How can I? They¡¯re my fellow comrades of this country.¡± Jake answered with a puzzled look on his face. ¡°I just don¡¯t have it in me to fight my friends, even if it¡¯s just practice. Besides these are peaceful times my friend, it¡¯s best for them to be more prepared for war than I will be. I just don¡¯t have it in me to kill others¡­ Even in self-defense, I¡¯ll just hesitate in a moments¡¯ notice.¡±


    Half way through that conversation, Zee thought in his mind, ¡®Friends my ass! Those Jerks are just taking advantage of your kindness for an easy punching bag.¡¯ But Zee did hear and understood everything Jake said while lost in thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry my friend, you¡¯re strong. When the time comes, you¡¯ll fight for this country with all your might! I¡¯m sure, no¡­ I know you¡¯ll surpass your big brother Rufus when you reach his age.¡± He placed his left hand on Jake¡¯s shoulder while standing side by side with him.


    ¡°With enough training and hard work, you¡¯ll even make General of this country!¡± Zee smiles brightly showing his teeth.


    ¡°You¡­ You think so Zee?¡± Jake asked with self-doubt.


    ¡°I know so Deputy Jake, no¡­ Sheriff Jake Reeves!¡± Zee said with a smile, shortly afterwards they both busted up with laughter. They both stared off into the distance, past the Allan Fold River, enjoying the serene view with the sound of the wind drowning out the silence.


    ¡°I got nothing else to do today and I know I will be starving soon¡­ were you also dismissed early too Jake?¡± Zee asked after breaking the silence.


    ¡°Not really, after realizing that I was knocked out for a few hours early this morning, I couldn¡¯t figure out where¡¯d everyone went and assumed that they¡¯d think I¡¯d be knocked out all day. So I limped my way to the river but mid-way, I was feeling fine enough to start walking again.¡± Jake said with calm and curious look on face like this is a common occurrence.


    Zee, thinking what a normal person would think, ¡®That¡¯s not a good thing at all to talk so normally about!¡¯


    He tried to change the subject by brandishing a short bow and a quiver of arrows from between his back and coat. ¡°I figured lets go hunting; only this time I will hunt our meal! As for you, you should just take it easy and rest. Besides, it is relaxing when we¡¯re waiting on our prey.¡±


    Jake, whom is still having a curious look on his face said, ¡°You¡¯ll be the one hunting? I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re not going to use magic for the kill.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s about time I practice with some weapons for once. Besides, killing animals with magic leaves a bad taste in my mouth.¡± Zee answered coyly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll bet, we don¡¯t want to taste any burnt or funky flavors as a side effect from magic.¡± Jake pondered, while Zee thinks, ¡®that¡¯s not the kind of bad taste I¡¯m talking about you barbarian!¡¯


    ¡°Which reminds me, its best we hunt in the western woods for the day. Apparently there¡¯s been killings and kidnappings¡­..¡± Jake said while looking troubled.


    ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Zee asked.


    ¡°Yeah, my brother and his platoon are investigating it as we speak. There are two dead bodies of our patrolmen, one woman and one man. Both have stab wounds in the same spot, right below their hearts with a weapon that can cut through their armor like butter.¡± Jake shudders as he continues on. ¡°And two missing soldiers too, though there were drag marks going north towards the Boarmane Mountains. It goes on for miles¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re worried about your brother?¡± Zee asked with a serious but calm look on his face.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ These deaths and the drag marks, it¡¯s kind of nerve wracking. I just hope that¡­¡± Jake said right before Zee cuts him off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve seen your brother fight. He¡¯s a beast of a man. He took down that dire boar all by himself, remember?¡± Zee said with confidence.


    Jake¡¯s gloom changed to a smile, then into a brighter smile. ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re right! He is truly an awesome warrior. I really shouldn¡¯t have anything to fear.¡±


    Zee smiles and pats Jake on his back and pulls up both the bow and quiver closer to him. ¡°And now, shall we go find ourselves a larger boar than that? Pard¡¯ner?¡± Zee asked with a wink.


    ¡°Sure thing! Partner!¡± Jake said with more confidence than ever. Zee scratches his head with his free hand. ¡°Eh, I suppose that¡¯ll do for now¡± He said with laughter, then Jake shortly joins in with that laughter as well. Then they head towards the western gate.

 Chapter 5 The March of the Goblins

    Glenn stands proudly and firmly up on top of a hill; he looks below at the spectacle of his small goblin army. He counts them to total sixty seven, more than he had gathered earlier in the morning. He inhales and exhales slowly while smiling up at the afternoon sun.


    He suddenly peers down into the abyss of the green goblin swarm and shouts out loud in the goblin language. ¡°My brothers! The time has come for us to take back our land!¡± They all shout in unison of agreement.


    ¡°Too long has it been, that these filthy humans have kept this land from us!¡± The goblins continued to shout in agreement. ¡°Too long have they been sitting here, getting fat from our game!¡± More shouting occurs.


    ¡°And if we sit here and let them have for any long more¡­ They¡¯ll just turn around take away more from us again!¡± This time the shouting turned to booing.


    ¡°But not today! Today¡­¡± He brandishes a ceremonial twisted bladed dagger from his grey robe. The same one that he has been cutting the palm of his hand, then cutting right below their heart earlier today with.


    ¡°Today! We take back what¡¯s ours¡­. Once and for all!¡± He says while raising the dagger up in the air to rally his goblin army.


    ¡°And with this, I will perform a last right. The right of passage for this young goblin that decided to join in with us, for the privilege of taking back our land! A Bond that will make all of us brethren closer than before. Closer than our families! By sharing our blood through this dagger. After today, nay forever on¡­ This will be a symbol of our new found history!¡± The shouting gets louder and louder.


    The shouting calms down as a young green skinned goblin with a head full of brown hair proudly walks on up to the hill. He lowers to one knee in front of Glenn and bows his head down while lowering his axe.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Glenn then walks up to the goblin and cuts his flesh beneath his heart, then he cuts his palm. Shortly afterwards, both wounds glow black and heals up leaving a scar. The young goblin proudly stands up and turns around to face the crowd, raises his axe and shouts a battle cry before the rest fall in unison with his.


    ¡°And with that, it is time for our march, our march¡­ To glory!¡± They all shout at his speech one last time, while he turns around facing north towards the entrance of the woods. They all but Glenn, march on with haste. All of them marched towards Golden Glade Town.


    Glenn looks up to the sky with amazement and he mutters to himself. ¡°It is now afternoon, I may be a little bit late.¡± He peers towards the town in the distance. ¡°I¡¯m sure Karr won¡¯t mind, due to us having a little bit more recruitment. If he complains, I¡¯ll just remind him of his remark about what we had less.¡±


    He hides his ceremonial dagger back into his left sleeve, then brandishes a straight forwarded blade dagger from his right sleeve in his left hand only to show the tip of the blade is painted purple. ¡°I would love to see the effects of Evan¡¯s magic to take effect. He did say it¡¯ll be around noon¡­ So even if I used it from now on, it¡¯ll take about six to seven hours to take affect¡­ A bit boring but useful for staged distractions I suppose¡­ Still I can use this for fun chaos and a good laugh later on when I go back to the thought of it.¡± He grins and pulls out his ceremonial dagger in his right hand.


    ¡°For now, I have to keep appearances or they¡¯ll suspect I really am using them for higher gains.¡± He chuckles as he moves on and raises his dagger at the rear of the army. It shines a deep jet black in the air. The aura flows fast and vast towards the army through the woods seeping into all the goblins in their scars beneath their hearts.


    While they march on, they slowly but surely produce a faint dark aura that shrouds their bodies and pales their skin enraging them ever more so than before. The curse of the goblin has been done; there is no turning back for these poor souls now. Any self-doubt that one would bear is too late to turn back now.

 Chapter 6 Revelation of a Storm

    The campsite with the two dead bodies, are suddenly now being approached by a group of soldiers on horseback. The one leading the charge is a man with short red hair. He¡¯s wearing splint mail armor colored brown, bearing the same rose symbol on the man¡¯s upper right side. He is wearing a forest green cloak over his armor, also covering his sheathed claymore.


    The soldiers following behind him are wearing the same uniform jackets and coat showing that three of them are warriors and one magician. Exception is, they¡¯re all wearing forest green colored clothing.


    Two of the warriors are brandishing long spears, and the third carrying a cross bow on the saddle. The mage however, whom is the only female of the group, is holstering a short wooden rod, with the top of it spiraling around a small green orb. All the horses they¡¯re riding in with are all brown thoroughbred. The leader of the group gets off his mounts and draws his claymore as he looks around with his eyes. He stands to be six feet tall and 5 inches. He¡¯s well-built and has a clean shaven face. The two spearmen split up, one standing between the leader, holding onto the leader¡¯s reins and the magician. While the other, stands behind the marksmen. The marksmen readies his cross bow, holds it at low ready and waits for orders as he keeps watch of the vicinity.


    The magician mounts off the horse, hands her reigns to the spearman before her. She stands to be about five feet and four inches tall. She lowers her hood to reveal that she has black long hair tied up in a bun, pale skin with freckles and brown eyes before she closes them. She pulls out her rod and lifts it up right in front of her head, and starts to hum for a few seconds. She opens her eyes and looks at the leader of the group as his focus is still to their surroundings.


    ¡°I only sense the life force of us and our mounts within the one hundred and twenty three foot zone.¡± She says with words of caution.


    ¡°Only us? Nothing else? Not even birds nor field mice? What about bugs?¡± The red haired man asked surprised.


    ¡°Nothing sergeant, this too worries me¡­ I¡¯ll keep focusing¡­¡± The magician answered, while recovering her resolve.


    The sergeant looked to both of the spearmen and nodded his head, in unison both of them answered, ¡°Yes sergeant Reeves!¡± Then split up, one galloped to the north passed the campsite, after handing his reigns to the marksmen. The other galloped south but not too far. Both stopped at the same time then started to circle to their left at the same time keeping watch of their vicinity. The horses that the marksman is keeping the reins on started to feel unease.


    The magician opens her eyes and she narrowed them in frustration. ¡°I still can¡¯t sense a soul besides ours, this is too weird. Even the smell of the corpses should bring flies to this spot, since hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Master magician Gibbons, do not let this cloud your judgment. I can tell that your instincts are telling you that this is a trap. Just remember that rage can cloud other paths that you can clearly see. We know you¡¯re doing your best, just relax a bit and think of other options. Better yet, think of it this way¡­ If you as an enemy mage keeping a low profile, how would you set up a trap in a place such as this?¡± Reeves asked trying to unnerve Gibbons.


    She ponders for a moment and looks up to the corpses as if she had an idea on her mind. ¡°The bodies!¡± She said with revelation. She goes into the same trance as before but with stillness in her mind.


    After a minute has passed, she lowered her rod and looks to Reeves and gives him a warm smile. ¡°I detect a faint hint of magic on the bodies; it appears to be in the same spot¡­¡±


    Reeves returns the warm smile. ¡°Good job master magician, now let us proceed with caution.¡±


    Both Reeves and Gibbons walk meticulously towards the corpses of the comrades. They both peer over the first one on the right which is laying on its left side. Reeves uses his claymore as a tool to light touch the side of the guardsmen¡¯s chainmail armor and pull him over, revealing his chest as his back rolls onto the ground.


    ¡°The same spot as the first two bodies back at town. Only difference, this one has bruises all over his body¡­¡± Gibbons said with a gloom look on her face. She stands up and walks to the other corpse and inspects that one as well.


    Reeves continues looking at the first corpse and closed his eyes, mumbling to himself. ¡°Farewell Private Cawthorn for we will find the murderer and bring them to justice! Your death will not be in vain!¡±


    Gibbons looks towards Reeves. ¡°Sergeant, this body has the same cut and bru-!¡± her sentence was cut short as the corpse lifts its torso up and grabs hold of Gibbons for a bite on her right shoulder.


    She screams loudly not because of pain, but the sudden surprise of the attack. She thinks she¡¯s in pain due to the surprise but in fact the armor is actually preventing the zombie bite to go deeper to touch her skin. The same time the marksman just reacted to her scream, he was about to unload a bolt onto the zombie¡¯s head, but the horse he was holding onto spooked out and ran back down south towards the town. Pulling him off of his horse and releasing the bolt into the sky, where it lands into the river at some point. His horse soon follows after the ones in the south.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    As for Reeves¡¯, before he could jump in and pile drive the zombie¡¯s head in with his claymore, the corpse of Cawthorn rises up to lung for a bite on him. Unfortunately for the zombie, Reeves¡¯ quick reaction moved his claymore the sooner to block off the zombie¡¯s lung.


    ¡°This thing is strong, but I¡¯m the better!¡± He says while winning the contest of strength, he shoved the zombie back into the ground. He steps back and swung his claymore in one swing, and off goes the zombie¡¯s head.


    He hears a galloping sound of his northern flank spearman rushing into action towards Gibbon¡¯s struggle. ¡°Their heads! Aim for the zombie¡¯s head!¡± Reeves shouted out.


    With enough momentum for the spearman on his side, he charged with his iron-spear and drove it into the zombie¡¯s head but did not cut it off; instead he dragged the zombie with him and released his grip out of reflex. Gibbons regained some form of composure and out of irritation from this embarrassing charade, she pointed her rod towards the spear of the rising limping headed zombie, and released a bolt of lightning that exploded the zombie¡¯s head into red gunk. Sending the spear flying and landing right next to the unconscious marksman.


    Gibbons is breathing heavily with her hair a bit of a mess from her neatly tied bun. The southern spearman shows up to pick up the spear and handed it to the northern one, and unmounts to check up on the marksmen.


    Reeves walks between Gibbons and the three soldiers. ¡°Is everyone alright, anyone injured?¡± He looks at Gibbons to find the bite mark did however scratch up and chafed but she seems fine just her adrenaline taking its time to go down.


    He looks to his right at his men, watching them checking the marksmen¡¯s head and pouring a vial¡¯s red liquid contents into his mouth.


    ¡°Private Johnson is alive, just out for now but his bruising will take some time to go away. Sergeant!¡± The man that wasn¡¯t pouring the vial responded.


    Reeves nods in approval. ¡°Good, Gibbons! After you take a breather, can you tell me what those zombies were about? Why would they be lying in wait, and how come you didn¡¯t notice their magical aura from before?¡±


    She takes a deep breathe in and out, closes her eyes, waits for a few seconds and opens them. She starts to curl her back hair up into a bun and speaks calmly. ¡°It is true that I did not detect anything for a moment, besides the cuts below their hearts. As soon as I called out to you that¡¯s when I felt that slight detection but at the same time¡­¡± She started to breathe faster after recalling the incident. She calmed down when she finished her bun.


    ¡°I have seen zombies in the southern Unum plains wander around aimlessly. Never lying in wait for a surprise attack like this and the way you said that, it¡¯s as if someone definitely staged this as a trap! Is there magic such as this that exists?¡± Reeves asked trying to pry some illumination to this predicament.


    ¡°There¡¯s many spells out there that are lost in the ages or have yet to be invented. Magic, according to some scholars, is alive. As for spells that work in a similar manner such as this, there have been delayed time spells or triggered spells. Usually to do with explosions or messages, so it is possible one or the other was placed upon these zombies¡­¡± Gibbons said while pondering why this was set likes this. Then she hastily pulls her rod out and concentrates for a few seconds, then opens her eyes to count the soldiers and the horses around.


    ¡°What is it?! You detect something?!¡± Reeves asked out of alarm.


    ¡°No¡­ Just the right amount of us here¡­ Including the horses¡­ Still no other life forms around¡­¡± Gibbons said out of relief, thinking that this isn''t a surprise ambush in waiting.


    ¡°Ummm, Sergeant and Master Magician¡­ there¡¯s something strange out there that might interest you or maybe nothing¡­¡± The Spearman holding both horse reins said like he¡¯s walking on broken glass with open feet.


    ¡°Speak your mind Private Koleman, any hints and clues can be useful to us right about now.¡± Reeves said with charismatic charm, while Gibbons gives Koleman a stern stare hinting the thought, ¡®This better be important¡¯.


    Looking at both he still feels the same nervous feeling. ¡°The horses that ran off, I can barely see them in the distance, it appears that they¡¯re making a b-line to the western woods instead of the path we came from¡­¡±


    Both Reeves and Gibbons looked at each other with the same thought and words, ¡°The town!¡± They¡¯re both on the same track and they know it, they even couldn¡¯t help but smile it.


    They both walked towards Koleman for the horses. ¡°The two of you stay here; keep an eye out for Private Johnson. When he returns, go ahead and carry both bodies back to the town. Oh and don¡¯t worry, they shouldn¡¯t be moving around anymore, they¡¯re dead for sure.¡± Reeves said with assurance as the two spearmen nod in unison at Reeves¡¯ orders.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe something this small was a great diversion for us, leading us away from something far greater going on in town¡­ If we make haste, we shouldn¡¯t be too late.¡± Gibbons said in a calm, stoic manner.


    ¡°I leave this task to you two, as for me and Gibbons¡­¡± Reeves¡¯ horse rears up on its hind legs and neighs. ¡°We be off to town to make sure the civilians are safe!¡± He said as his horse lands and then they ride off into the distance with a ¡°Yah!¡±.


    After a moment Koleman asked the other spearman, ¡°You think Reeves will be safe with Gibbons around?¡±


    The other without turning his head to Koleman and answered. ¡°Gibbons? Yeah yeah, sure. He¡¯ll be safe, she actually has a thing for him.¡±


    Koleman still staring off into the distance. ¡°I dunno if that¡¯s a good thing or a bad thing heh.¡± They both continue to stare as they nod in unison, watching the clouds, starting to darken up.

 Chapter 7 The Duos Fateful Encounter

    ¡°Zee we¡¯ve been walking for about an hour and still have seen neither hide nor hare of any animals. Come to think of it, I have yet to hear any calling sounds of bugs in these woods¡­¡± Jake said while walking naturally silent, turning to see Zee trying his best to move silently and yet keeps stepping onto a pile of leaves or twigs.


    ¡°It¡¯s been forever ago since I¡¯ve played in the woods ahaha¡­¡± Zee laughed out of disappointment.


    ¡°Played? Have you at least gone hunting before?¡± Jake asked with his arms crossed.


    ¡°Umm sure I have! Though it didn¡¯t require me to go walking in the woods for a while, I just sat down and may have fallen asleep numerous times, waiting for animals to come to me.¡± Zee answered embarrassingly.


    ¡°Well I guess there is that method, but you really need to stay on guard. That¡¯s a bad habit to pick up on.¡± Jake pondered while tilting his head.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ I need to brush myself for whatever life throws at me; it¡¯ll take some time to do so. Well for now, I suggest we wait for an animal to come to us! After all you need your re-!¡± Before Zee could finish, he was interrupted by Jake motioning him to be quiet.


    Zee readies his bow and Jake has his right hand on the hilt of his sword. They stay motionless for a few minutes, hearing a faint sound of something moving around in the northern brushes getting a little closer. It releases a snort then stops. Zee knocks an arrow up onto his bow and points in the same general direction as Jake slowly but quietly draws his broad sword out. Shortly afterwards, they hear a cry of a horse and galloping off through the woods in the north.


    ¡°Eh, I wasn¡¯t even in the mood to eat horse meat anyways¡­¡± Jake said after sheathing his sword up.


    ¡°You meat-head, you¡¯d eat anything wouldn¡¯t you? That was most likely someone¡¯s horse from the town.¡± Zee said after he put the arrow back up into his quiver while giving Jake a cold stare.


    ¡°I was going to risk it being my drill instructor¡¯s horse.¡± Jake said with a wry smile while shrugging his shoulders.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s what I¡¯d call straight from the horse¡¯s mouth.¡± Zee said flatly before they both busted into laughter.


    Their laughter was soon interrupted by another rummaging sound from the southern brushes. The boys immediately look towards the brushes and then to each other surprised about the noises they¡¯re making, that anything would head towards their direction. Curious to what it could be, they still drew their weapons and focused in that general direction.


    What the boys saw creeping up slowly from the brushes, reveals to be the young goblin that was the last to be cursed by Glenn. His pale looking face scanning around and notices the young boys, as they too notice that he doesn¡¯t appear to be a normal forest goblin.


    ¡°Um Jake, is that a swamp goblin or a sickly forest goblin?¡± Zee asked out of bewilderment.


    The goblin starts to walk towards them with dragging his axe on the ground.


    ¡°Hmm, judging where we¡¯re at, I¡¯d say that¡¯s a forest goblin, he is moving a bit slowly and drooling so maybe he is sick¡­¡± Jake answered.


    The goblin mutters some words in repeat as he walks closer.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t study up on goblin language, I wonder what he¡¯s saying.¡± Zee pondered as the goblin pulls his axe up off the ground with both hands still muttering the same words.


    ¡°My brother taught me some of it, I learned to pick up the rest in boot camp.¡± Jake responded while remembering his lessons.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The Goblin starts to run towards the boys as Zee is looking back and forth from it to Jake.


    ¡°It is saying, ¡®Must¡­Kill¡­Filthy Bugs!¡¯ over and over again, but we have yet to see any bugs as of lately¡­¡± Jake said while squinting his eyes.


    Zee went ahead and released an arrow but missed, hitting the ground right before its feet. Then the arrow got crushed underneath the goblin¡¯s feet.


    ¡°You idiot I think that¡¯s a slang for us humans seeing as how he¡¯s running towards us with killer intention in his eyes!¡± Zee launched another arrow and hits the goblin square in the chest but it didn¡¯t even faze him as he drew near in arms reach.


    With lightning fast reflexes, Jake subconsciously blocks the down striking axe, with his broad sword, doing this with both hands. ¡°Oh, I guess you¡¯re right Zee¡­¡± He tries to brush the goblin off but the goblin¡¯s strength is so abnormal to him, it¡¯s practically a test of endurance.


    Zee launched another arrow after careful precision, and hit the goblin straight in its head, but it¡¯s still alive, snarling at Zee while drooling on Jake as he gets lower than the goblin.


    ¡°This thing is strong, so very strong, I don¡¯t think I can win this¡­¡± Jake mutters while attempting to overpower the goblin.


    ¡°Jake just try to evade his attacks, we can just kite around him and whittle him down a bit!¡± Zee yelled out, while he gains some new footing on higher grounds.


    Jake eventually let the goblin push him down, just so he can use the momentum to attempt a tumble roll behind him, but the goblin¡¯s strength threw Jake off guard and caused him to roll to a nearby tree and hit it. Jake staggered to get up from his dizziness. The goblin paid him no mind, just kept his focus to Zee and charged right at him up hill. Zee was losing his focus out of fear and frustration that he kept missing his next two arrows.


    He finally had an epiphany of realizing, ¡®Oh I¡¯m a mage, not an archer!¡¯ So he threw his bow and arrow on the ground and right when the goblin drew to close. Jake regained his senses and saw Zee was in trouble so he threw his sheathed dagger gunning towards the back of the goblin, same time Zee felt the mana of the air around him and poured some of his own mana to unleash a torrent of air that blew the goblin at amazing speed, towards the dagger and had it plunged into the back of his spinal neck. The goblin blacked out and suddenly withered away like dust in the wind leaving behind the goblin¡¯s belongings and the dagger that did him in.


    ¡°That worked well!¡± Jake stated as he walked towards the gear and grabbed his dagger to brush off the black dust.


    ¡°You jest? That was sloppier than your cooking!¡± Zee stated while exhaling in relief that the fight was over.


    ¡°If we gotten that horse and cooked it after this encounter, how messy would that be?¡± Jake pondered while holding his chin with his right arm as he looked up.


    Zee rolls his eyes while smirking. ¡°Much messier I¡¯ll bet. Still, we really have to be careful. That could¡¯ve been worse than it went. Though it¡¯s a bit strange. One, forest goblins are a recluse bunch, they usually don¡¯t travel this far nor attacking us humans unless provoked. Two, this forest goblin didn¡¯t look right and just disappeared after I blew him towards your dagger, which good throw by the way! Third..!¡± Before Zee could finish his monologue, Jake started staggering as he walked towards Zee.


    ¡°I feel dizzy again¡­¡± Jake said right before he fell down face first on the ground, revealing that he has a nasty cut across his back. It must¡¯ve happened when the goblin slid Jake to the tree unnoticed.


    ¡°Jake? Jake¡­ Jaaake!¡± Zee shouted in worry.


    Zee, looks around the vicinity, spotting some thickets not too far. He picks Jake up by hanging him around his back and heads towards the thickets. He takes Jake¡¯s jacket and tunic off, then pulls out a vial of clear liquid from his belt and pours it on his back. Then he grabs some wash rag out of his bottom left cargo pocket and rubs against Jake¡¯s wound, folds it back together and placed it back into his pocket. He takes some rolled up bandage out of his bottom right cargo pocket and wraps Jake¡¯s torso around with it. He folds Jake¡¯s jacket up and lays Jake on it and moves his folded up tunic underneath Jake¡¯s head.


    He reaches into his upper left cargo pocket and pulls out a green ball, and threw it towards the town. Shortly afterward Zee threw the ball, green smoke start rising from it, while Zee starts to cover him and Jake up with leaves and twigs. After he¡¯s done, he moves his left hand on Jake¡¯s chest and closes his eyes to keep a concentration focus to feel for where Jake¡¯s wound is so he can slowly but surely help close it up with his healing magic.


    ¡®There we go. After that is done, I will start to focus on easing his bruises again. Jake has been through a lot this day¡­ I would move him to town, but I have a bad feeling about it. It¡¯s best for now to lay low and heal up till then. Hopefully help will come soon, if another goblin shows up like that one¡­ May be problematic.¡¯ As Zee opens his eyes, he sees black smoke rising from the southern part of the town. ¡®What is going on in town?¡¯ He closes his eyes and continues his focus.

 Chapter 8 Life Lesson, to soon to Learn

    ¡°Excellent, you managed to hit all the targets in your lane, though you¡¯re not using any elemental attributes into your spells. You¡¯re just throwing mana bolts at the dummies.¡± Korahk said to one of his apprentice mages as he mark¡¯s his score on the clip board.


    The apprentice in front of him stands to be five feet and six inches tall. He has long black hair covering his tanned skin face and black eyes. He is wearing his hood on, as the other apprentices and even Korahk too.


    ¡°Yes Instructor Korahk, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± He said as he peers over to a group of apprentices crowded around the same girl that vented out on Zee this morning.


    ¡°Apprentice Gibbons you¡¯re very good with lightning based elements.¡± A female apprentice said to her.


    ¡°Can you teach me how to master it?¡± Another apprentice asked.


    ¡°Sure, it¡¯ll take some time but, with my knowledge and the training my sister gave to me¡­ I know I can at least make all of you able bodied enough to master the lightning attribute within a year.¡± Apprentice Gibbons said while chuckling.


    The young apprentice mage that was with Korahk, rolled his eyes after somehow managing to hear the far distant conversation from the crowd, he noticed some smoke from the southern part of town. There was to many to be a normal bonfire or burning of leaves and twigs which rose some suspicion to him. When he focused his attention to that direction, he can hear faint screams that started to bother him, as would any sane person.


    ¡°Good grief, I suppose it can¡¯t be helped can it.¡± He mumbled to himself as Instructor Korahk turned back around looking at him with a ¡®you said something?¡¯ look.


    ¡°Instructor, I think there are buildings on fire down there¡­¡± The apprentice said while pointing to the southern part of town.


    Korahk looked into that general direction and was bewildered at the sight of so many smoke pillars. While Korahk is trying to figure out what to do, the young apprentice rolls his eyes while facing the smoke.


    ¡°I think it would be best if we gathered up everyone and do a roll call first, and then maybe find a safe place till we figure out what is going on instructor¡­¡± The young apprentice said.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Ahem, right! Everyone, form up at the front of the field right now!¡± Korahk yelled, while trying to remain calm.


    All of the apprentices, minus the one next to Korahk, in unison replied, ¡°Yes Instructor!¡± Everyone formed up, except the same apprentice that is still next to Korahk.


    ¡°Good everyone is here¡­ which by the way, apprentice Lockmeyer, you¡¯re not in formation¡­¡± Korahk said with a curious eye.


    ¡°Much apologies Instructor, I¡¯m just a bit worried from the smoke is all¡­¡± Lockmeyer said coyly as he walked around the formation to place himself in the last rank. As he was ignoring the mutterings of the other apprentices about the smoke, Lockmeyer glanced around to make sure everyone¡¯s in formation.


    ¡°Instructor, I don¡¯t see apprentice Lancelin anywhere.¡± Lockmeyer said while keeping a calm focus to Korahk so he can listen to his reply.


    ¡°I dismissed him earlier after the lecture, he wasn¡¯t feeling well¡­ He should be at his home by now¡­ ¡®I hope he¡¯s safe¡¯.¡± Korahk replied while hiding his fear for Zee¡¯s safety.


    ¡°Good grief, I suppose it can¡¯t be helped can it?¡± Lockmeyer muttered while hearing the screaming getting louder, mixed in with some guttural shouting as he eyes the south.


    The apprentices¡¯ worries grow a little more, as they see a couple of town guards running from different sides heading to the southern part of town.


    As soon as Korahk called out to a couple of guardsmen whom are heading from the eastern part of town, one of them turned to face Korahk as he suddenly having his head pierced by an arrow from the back of his head, through his right eye. As he fell down to the ground, the other guardsmen turned to face the attacker, while holding onto his spear in fear and desperation only to see two goblins advancing from the south east part of town. Both goblins pale and of course afflicted by the curse, wearing fur as their armor, the one on the left brandishing an oaken composite short bow, already drawing another arrow from his quiver. The goblin on the right was holding a primitive axe and a wooden shield.


    They advance slowly, as the guardsman summoned up his courage to charge head on to the goblins with his spear. Only to be intercepted by the axe wielder¡¯s shield, deflecting his spear to the side and buried his axe into the guardsman¡¯s head, easily through his helmet like it was nothing. As the guardsman¡¯s body fell to the ground and the goblin throwing the blood off of his axe as they advance, the apprentices started to scream and run around.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    A couple of the apprentices ran off to the north, four ran to the west. Without thinking clearly, three apprentices ran to the south. The rest stayed with Korahk, half asking him ¡®What¡¯ll we do?¡¯ while the rest from the same crowd asking apprentice Gibbons ¡®Should we attack back?¡¯.


    One of the apprentices that ran north suddenly got shot down by the archer goblin, the four that ran west, were suddenly met by axes and spiked clubs from goblins of the same numbers, coming around the buildings. The southern apprentices we¡¯re impaled by arrows from the goblins of the south, while the non-archer goblins started to leave the buildings they passed by on fire.


    Lockmeyer, after rolling his eyes and muttering ¡®Good grief¡­¡¯ started to meander around the panicking group of mages and Korahk. He raised both of his arms and launched a barrage of five ice sickle bolts at the goblin archer. Two of the icicles hit the ground near him and the rest hitting and penetrating places around the goblin, disabling him to use his bow but not killing him.


    ¡°Good grief, these goblins are tougher than I thought¡­¡± Lockmeyer as he lifted his arms up in the air palms flat, concentrating his mana to be in sync with the water molecules in the air above the goblins.


    After a few chanting of words, he suddenly threw his arms down while his hands ball up into fists, summoning water to fall upon the goblins from the east. The archer lost his balance and fell down, staggering to get up since his joints are messed up from the ice sickles. The axe wielder, advanced slowly and cautiously towards the apprentices.


    Gibbons, summoning up her courage, told her fellow mages, ¡°Everyone, focus the water as a base for the electrical element and release it to the goblins!¡±


    In unison after the apprentices gathered up their resolve, they raised their arms to focus their attention to the drenched goblins. Gibbons shot an arc of lighting from her finger tips towards the sparks that are already on the goblins that are forming up from the other apprentices¡¯ focus. Frying the archer, he turned into dust, dropping the ice sickles and his gear. As for the axe wielder, he was stunned for a time, but advanced on with a last resort charge knowing how dangerous and problematic these mages are.


    The sight of the axe wielder, not showing signs of pain nor fatigue, charging at them with his suicidal resolve, frightened the apprentices to back down. Gibbons noticing this, she looks around to assess the situation. She sees Lockmeyer, whom she couldn¡¯t help but be impressed with his teamwork, out of breath and fetching a vial filled with green liquid from his belt and chugging it down his throat.


    She turns around and sees Korahk keeping the western goblins at bay with his volley of ice sickles, he felled two already as she saw one turn to dust but couldn¡¯t take the time to ponder the black dust for now during combat. So she summoned up her courage and pride of the Gibbons¡¯ family honor to charge towards the oncoming axe wielder, focusing her mana to touch the goblin so she can fry him up with the last of her mana. But alas to no avail, the goblin was the quicker, he cleaved off her head sending it rolling towards the apprentices as they shriek in fear. Yet at the same moment, whereas the focus of her elemental mana had nowhere to go, summoned a lightning bolt from the sky and blasted her body with the goblin. The goblin shortly afterwards turned to dust leaving behind his scorched belongings and the scorched body of Gibbons.


    The lightning blast caused Lockmeyer and the apprentices to fall down from its thunderous after effects, deafening them for a short time. Lockmeyer staggered himself to get up, as are the other apprentices, he looks at the head of Gibbons, which rolled near him. He muttered to her, ¡°You may have been arrogant as an apprentice magician, but you fought valiantly as a proud soldier for this country¡­¡± Knowing that no one can hear him, even he couldn¡¯t hear himself.


    He looks to the south, to find a volley of arrows raining down upon him and the mages; he attempted to barrel roll to the side, but ended up getting an arrow pinned to his left foot. As for the other apprentices, they all fall down, looking like bloody pin cushions. Ignoring the pain, he maintained to position himself to summon up his mana to focus the water molecules above the distant archers and oncoming non-archer goblins like before. He looked to his right eyeing Korahk, noticing that Korahk finished off the last of the western goblin with a barrage of ice sickles and spotted an arrow pinned to Korahk¡¯s left arm below his shoulder.


    ¡°Korahk! Your six o¡¯clock! Now!¡± Lockmeyer yelled out, while skipping the honorifics for the time being.


    Korahk looked towards the south as he saw water formed, raining down on the goblins and around them stretching in a fourty foot line. He used the water as his base focus to sprout up an ice sickle wall, reaching up seven to ten feet high, piercing some of the goblin warriors turning most of them into dust and blocking off another volley of arrows.


    Lockmeyer falls down to his knees, breathing heavily as he¡¯s clutching his chest. ¡®Good Grief I¡¯m about spent on my mana, I can¡¯t keep this up and I know Korahk will run out sooner or later.¡¯ He looks around and notices a goblin looming from the east with a primative pickaxe, two more goblins brandishing wooden spears with stone tips gearing up for a charge and the goblins that survived the sudden ice wall starting to move around it.


    ¡°I guess it can¡¯t be helped can it? Instructor Korahk come over here for a sec¡­¡± He stated as he fetched a scroll from his lower left cargo pocket and rolled it open, while Korahk curiously walks towards Lockmeyer.


    ¡°Instructor Korahk, if you want to live then focus all of your mana around us, and channel that energy into this scroll. I will explain when this is all over¡­¡± Lockmeyer said with a calm expression, as Korahk hesitated a moment but realized the situation they¡¯re in.


    He put all of his faith into Lockmeyer and did what he asked for. As the goblins drew within range, Lockmeyer activated the runic letters on the scroll to flash brightly and shortly afterwards, they disappeared. As they vanished, a huge explosion happened. Throwing the goblins from the south that advanced from the ice wall, back into the ice wall turning them into dust after impaled by the spikes. The one from the east was scorched then turned to dust shortly afterwards. The ones from the west we¡¯re thrown aback up against a building, one turned to dust, and the other staggered himself up to assess his surroundings. Both Lockmeyer and Korahk are now gone, leaving no trails or anything behind. Just a scorched crater from where they stand. Even Gibbons¡¯ head flew to a tree, half scorched from the explosion, releasing a tear from her non-scorched eye.

 Chapter 9 Reminiscence and Roots

    Karr was walking down from the north side of town, reminiscing a time when he was this country¡¯s general. After walking through familiar paths and passing by townsfolk that are running in fear, he spotted two guardsmen keeping sentry at a big round stone building.


    He spotted the same apprentice mage that ran from the slaughter earlier, yelling and screaming, ¡°The goblins are coming! The goblins are coming!¡±


    The two guardsmen looked at the young apprentice running off towards the far north side of town, still yelling in distress. They both looked at each other with worrisome looks, like they¡¯re pondering if they should head to join the fight to defend the town, or remain here on guard.


    Karr walks on up towards them, arms crossed and eyeing them curiously as they nervously try to stand firm, but with difficulty because Karr towers over them.


    ¡°It would be wise, for both of you to assist the fight south of town instead of pointlessly guarding this building.¡± Karr suggested with a deep soothing voice that made the guards feel unease.


    ¡°Should¡­Shouldn¡¯t you-¡° One of the guardsmen nervously tried to reply with a question back, only to be interrupted by Karr.


    ¡°I¡¯m an old, retired fellow soldier. I would assist the fight, but it would be best for young, able-bodied soldiers such as you to join the fray. For now, I¡¯m just assisting and warning the townsfolk to get to safety. If the goblins manage to reach this far, I will fight along with the townsfolk but that is if they get this far. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem if you younglings help prevent that from happening.¡± Karr finished with a wink that managed to set the guardsmen at ease.


    ¡°Yeah, we should go to where we¡¯re needed most.¡± One guardsman said to the other.


    ¡°Now that he mentions it, he actually does look familiar. Like I¡¯ve seen him before, as if my father served under him¡­ Very well, we shall be off!¡± The other guardsman said with confidence.


    Shortly afterwards, they both made haste to the center of the town. Karr watched them run out of sight due to buildings blocking his view, and then he started to open the heavy metal doors slowly and walked inside the building. He scanned around inside the auditorium. The only light source he has is the faint sunlight from outside, mostly being blocked off by the dark clouds. He stopped his movement and closed his eyes while crossing his arms as if he sensed that someone else is in the room with him.


    ¡°You were a bit late for the assault Glenn¡­¡± Karr said loudly but calmly as it echoes throughout the building.


    Glenn was leaning up against the archway of the metal doors with his arms crossed too, smirking at Karr. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, I was running a tad bit late. But I can assure you, gathering more recruits for the assault was worth it. And for the chaos that ensured throughout this whole town¡­¡±


    He walks a few paces towards Karr while turning around basking in the faint sunlight while breathing deeply. ¡°Was well worth witnessing¡­¡± Glenn chuckled.


    Karr thought for a bit about the innocent townsfolk and the young soldiers dying out in this assault they planned up, but shook the thought out of his head as he opened his eyes and looked straight ahead into the darkness of the auditorium. His mind keeping focus of their end goal to their plans, may it be wrong in many ways. With that assurance in mind, he continued to march on into the darkness with his purpose as Glenn watched him with a blank look on his face.


    ¡°As long as you had a good reason I suppose, and did initiate this assault like we planned¡­¡± Karr said as he continued on, landing every step he makes going down the center stairway.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°I¡¯m impressed that a human, such as you, can see in the dark very well.¡± Glenn smirked, as he follows Karr into the dark.


    ¡°I cannot see in the dark¡­¡± Karr said as he stopped at the end of the stairway before the back stage, reminiscing his times when he would give out a speech to raise morale to the townsfolk back then when he was general.


    ¡°Are there any obstacles in the way on stage?¡± Karr asked Glenn.


    Glenn looked on stage and spotted a desk about five feet from the front of the stage directly in front of Karr. ¡°None¡± Glenn said as he hid his smile.


    Karr advanced onward and bumped into the desk, half expecting the goblin to play him as a fool, and heard Glenn snicker about the prank. Karr turned his head to the side to where Glenn is behind from where the snicker came from, and then he faced forward and moved around the desk as he strode on.


    Karr halted at a stone wall, he can¡¯t see but imagine, a carving of a triangle reaching from bottom up about six feet high. In the center is a female figure in robes holding her arms up as she¡¯s closing her eyes. Above her palms, is a symbol of a star shaped figure. Glenn tilts his head and scratches it with his right hand while closing his eyes.


    ¡°Is this it? This mural doesn¡¯t have any hints of a barrier on it. Doesn¡¯t even look much like a symbolic form of anything important but a primitive art design.¡± Glenn critiqued while yawning.


    Karr, ignoring the remark, fetched his necklace from his plate mail. Revealing a silver key attached to it. He started to feel for the star with his left hand, then he slid the key looking for a keyhole with his right. After he fixated it in the center of the star, he pushed it slightly forward with ease. He then twists it to the right, following with a loud click afterwards. He then pushed with both hands as the hidden double stone doors move into the hidden room slowly, while dropping dust from the center. He slowly walks in after the dust cloud cleared away, following behind him, Glenn.


    ¡°To think your people would hide something as amazing as this room in a backwoods town such as this place.¡± Glenn said after whistling in amazement.


    He walks past Karr to scan the room, he notices there¡¯s an alter in the center that is about thirty feet in diameter. Five feet away from the sides of the alters are four pillars that rise to twelve feet high. Each pillar are circular in a foot and a half diameter, and have an archway connected to four smaller looking pillars that are a foot spaced from each other. Beneath the big pillars there are runic carvings circled around them about a foot distance from each pillar. As for the central pillars, there¡¯s runic carvings circled around all four of them about two feet from them. The alter has a step way around it, about five steps from the ground.


    ¡°This barrier was created by this country¡¯s prized lineage of barrier magicians known as the Leviticus.¡± Karr said as Glenn jumped over the step way into the alter scanning the carvings.


    ¡°The Leviticus knew what they were doing. This barrier is some real work, even ancient. I¡¯m surprised this country has some history to it.¡± Glenn smirked as he scanned around the pillars of the other circles.


    ¡°This country was founded by a coup de tat from fifty years ago of two separate countries. The Leviticus we¡¯re more of a neutral clan, the mages that are born in that family had to be women. It was the way of their heritage. For now, I know not of the current remainder of the clan. Last I recalled there was only one survivor from the civil war that ended before I defected ten years ago.¡± Karr stated before Glenn turned around to Karr.


    ¡°This family was founded after the coup de tat?¡± Glenn asked curiously and confused.


    ¡°No, their family is that of an ancient time spanning beyond centuries.¡± Karr said clearly.


    ¡°Makes sense, seeing as how this barrier is very old itself. It¡¯ll take some time but with the scrolls that me and Evan made, I will break this. Whatever was sealed here from long ago, is most likely weakened by now, it¡¯s soul might not even be enough but better than most rabble we fetch here and there. Are you okay with me expending your resources to release whatever is sealed in here?¡± Glenn asked with a grin.


    Karr closed his eyes for a moment then opened them back up again. ¡°Proceed, there¡¯s no going back to what we started¡­¡± Karr stated calmly.


    Glenn¡¯s grin grew wider as his eyes bulged a bit. ¡°Then let¡¯s let the fun begin!¡± Glenn cackled as he fetched four scrolls from his robe and started to line one by one up against each big pillar, then headed to the center to begin the ritual.


    ¡°I will leave you to your devices, as for me¡­ I¡¯ll make sure no one interrupts you.¡± Karr stated firmly as he turned around and strode off into the darkness.


    ¡°Do make sure no one interrupts me, and also¡­ Look out for the desk!¡± Glenn chuckled as Karr stopped and imagined an obstacle at the stage this time, but in vain, he did accidently kicked it which Glenn did hear it. Glenn chuckled again, ¡°Now¡­ Let¡¯s get started shall we?¡± Glenn started the chant in the ancient tongue.

 Chapter 10 Unpleasant Reunion

    Rufus and Gibbons are closing in towards town. About ten minutes ago, they saw an explosion happened near the center of the town. Five minutes before that, they saw the silhouette of green smoke rising from the western woods. They question themselves why would there be soldiers in the woods that are in need of a search party or even help, and even then, with that thought alone rose their worries ever more. They stop at the edge of town after seeing a young apprentice magician running out, still screaming, ¡°The goblins are coming! The goblins are coming!¡±


    He stopped before Rufus and Gibbons as he just recognized who they were. Gibbons pointed her rod at the apprentice. ¡°You there! Tell us what¡¯s going on! Where are the goblins?! How many of them are there?! When was this happening?! Why are you not in town defending it?! What has happened to the school or the rest of your fellow apprentices?! If anything happened to my sister while you ran off, so help me I will¡­..¡± Rufus intervened before Gibbons started to get worse on the apprentice.


    ¡°Calm down young apprentice, just tell us what is going on.¡± Rufus said sincerely.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Umm¡­ I¡­ Right!... Earlier we as for the rest of the class were in the practice field near the lecture hall, we were doing our daily practices. Then suddenly these goblins came and k.. k.. Killed two town guardsmen. After that¡­ Me and apprentice Thompson ran. Thompson got shot down right next to me¡­¡± Stuttered the apprentice as he looked at both Gibbons and Reeves.


    Gibbons gritted her teeth, ¡°You¡­ What?! You ran from your classmates and left them for dead?! You¡­ What of Korahk?! The rest of the class?! And if my sister is hurt, so help me I will¡­¡±


    Rufus intervened again. ¡°I think we¡¯ve heard enough, thank you young apprentice for the report, but for its best that you come with us. I know this is new and hard on you but this is also the same for everyone else around you. We may need your help now so please summon up your courage to fend off these forest dwelling invaders.¡± Rufus finished with raising his fist to boost the confidence of the apprentice.


    Gibbons kept her head high while glaring as if she¡¯s also egging the apprentice on with the thought, ¡®This is your duty!¡¯ The apprentice looked from Rufus with a little patriotism, to Gibbons with fear for his life. Not fear from the goblins, but fear from her.


    ¡°We all joined the military of this country for many reasons; most of us have the same. Defending our loved ones is the most common one of all. So please, look deep down in your heart and remember what it is that made you join.¡± Rufus said while reaching his hand out.


    The apprentice looked past his hand while remembering that he mainly joined to gain benefits for his sick parents. He remembered the risk of possible war as well and his determination of joining anyways if it led to that point.


    ¡°You¡¯re right Sergeant Reeves, I will fight off the goblins!¡± The young apprentice said with a redeeming smile. He grabs hold of Rufus¡¯ hand and Rufus pulls him onto his horse in front of him.


    ¡°Then let us be off to the Mage¡¯s Academy!¡± Rufus said while Gibbons kept a stoic look on her face.


    ¡°Young apprentice, what is your name?¡± Rufus asked not just out of curiosity, but out of lowering tension and easier to address him as such.


    ¡°Iuke, Apprentice Iuke Winston.¡± The young apprentice answered as his hood started to fall from the horseback ride revealing him to have short red hair, green eyes and pale white skin that has hardly seen the light of day.


    ¡°Well apprentice Winston, since you¡¯re with us, it¡¯s best we find out a little more about each other so we can work together as a team. Such as; what kind of magic can you do? If you have any other skills that would be necessary¡­!¡± Before Rufus could finish, and before Iuke could respond, Rufus spotted Karr exiting the unguarded stone building.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Rufus immediately halted his horse and stared at Karr as if he saw a ghost.


    ¡°No way¡­¡± He whispered while he got off his horse and walked slowly towards Karr.


    Iuke was puzzled for a moment, but couldn¡¯t help be awe inspired by the seven foot tall man with scars on his face showing signs of his years of experience in combat. Gibbons of course halted her horse shortly after Rufus did, she spotted Karr a little after. Normally she would be irritated that the stone building isn¡¯t guarded or the fact that some stranger is walking out from there, but she couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡®Have I seen this guy before? If so where?¡¯. Karr noticed Rufus approaching him, so Karr walked casually towards him with a smile as if they¡¯ve been old friends for a long time.


    ¡°General Karr? But how, I thought you were dead¡­¡± Rufus asked in surprise.


    ¡°I never died, I just¡­ I was gone for a long time. I suppose you can say it¡¯s a secret mission.¡± Karr said with a warm smile.


    ¡°A mission that the council sent you upon? Must be something very important especially since you¡¯ve been gone for ten years¡­¡± Rufus said, still not believing in what he¡¯s seeing.


    ¡°The council¡­ No¡­ They¡¯re not to be trusted¡­¡± Karr said grimly.


    ¡°But General¡­¡± Rufus stuttered as Karr interrupted him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not general anymore! Not for this country nor a tool by the council¡­ Those fools will bring ruin to this country¡­¡± Karr muttered while looking at the ground.


    Before Rufus could question Karr anymore of what he meant, their reunion was interrupted by an explosion on the other side of the stone building. Shortly afterwards a huge beast emerged from the rubble.


    The beast is forty feet tall from his four legs to his back. He is about sixty feet long, and very muscular. His fur starts at its base as brown, ends with a hint of bluish purple strands. His hind legs have hooves for feet, his front legs have claws. He has a white mane around his face like a lion, with the same color of hair going from his head to the end of his tail. He has two horns on his head, one on each side. His eyes are bright amber orbs with no pupils whatsoever. As he breaths, a faint glimpse of steam pours out of his mouth.


    The beast looks around, and then it looks towards the rubble that it came from. It continues to stare at the rubble for some time. It speaks in a loud echoing voice, with a language that is not in the common tongue. A voice, not as loud but loud enough, shouts back to the beast in a similar tongue as well.


    ¡°I suppose that is my que to be off, I have places to be¡­¡± Karr said as he strode off to the east.


    ¡°Gen¡­Er I mean¡­Karr! Are you responsible for all of this?!¡± Rufus asked with desperation, hoping that the man he used to idolized and served would not, but the hints and events up to this point say otherwise.


    Karr stopped, and closed his eyes. ¡°For the sake of a greater country¡­No¡­A greater world¡­¡± He opens his eyes and looks towards the beast that is having a conversation with whoever the other voice is, ¡®even though Karr knows its Glenn¡¯.


    ¡°Some sacrifices must be made¡­¡± Karr turned back to face the east again as he strode off.


    ¡°Then¡­ You truly are beh-.¡± Rufus was interrupted by Karr.


    ¡°Reeves, you have a duty to uphold right? That Beast will run amok soon; you must hurry before it¡¯s too late.¡± Karr said as he continued to walk off.


    ¡°The whole time you two were talking, I was using my magic to see if he¡¯s lying or not¡­Everything he said is unfortunately true no matter how much you want to deny it¡­¡± Gibbons said with a saddened look on her face towards Rufus.


    ¡°What should we do sergeant?¡± Iuke asked Rufus as Rufus gritted his teeth and balling up his fists. Gibbons shot a condescending glare at Iuke, as Rufus looked towards the beast.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to leave Karr alone for now, since he¡¯s not really attacking the town¡­ As for the Beast¡­ I¡¯ll handle it, the two of you should check up on the other apprentices of the academy and maybe head back to the Beast after you¡¯re done.¡± Rufus said with bitter remorse of letting Karr go.


    ¡°Understood Sergeant Reeves, then we will be off. Let¡¯s go apprentice Winston.¡± Gibbons said while remaining calm.


    ¡°Ummm I don¡¯t know how to drive a horse¡­¡± Iuke said nervously.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Gibbons grunted while thinking, ¡®Useless!¡¯. She rides her horse closer to Iuke¡¯s horse and grabs his reins. With a kick to the horse¡¯s side, she rides off, with Iuke¡¯s horse following behind. As Rufus watches them head south towards the center of the town, he draws his claymore and turns to look at the beast. Then he dashes towards the other side of the building.

 Chapter 11 Dealing with an Ancient

    The runes on the alter glow a fiery red. They start to move towards Glenn. Glenn continues his chant louder and louder. The runes start to swirl around Glenn¡¯s body and glow brighter and brighter. Until suddenly, a white flash of light causes the alter to explode sending Glenn flying back towards the auditorium¡¯s stage, crashing into the desk and splintering it.


    The Explosion opened up the walls and ceiling around the alter. Replacing the alter, is the Beast that was sealed within the alter.


    Glenn gets up, readjusting his bones, stretching out his muscles and dusting debris off his torn robe. ¡®Wow, I gotta keep an ear out for this Leviticus family. They may become a hindrance to my future goals. That seal had a few hidden traps in it. If not for the scrolls, my mana would¡¯ve been nearly depleted. But still, I proved the better for the challenge heh heh.¡¯ Glenn chuckles as he steps towards the Beast.


    The Beast looks around his surroundings. He notices smoke rising from the south side of town and an almost one sided battle of raging goblins slaughtering human soldiers.


    He felt an odd presence behind him, so he turns around slowly and noticed another goblin approaching him without any hints of fear whatsoever. He can tell that this queer goblin bears much power in his soul, he would safely assume as well since this creature managed to break the seal, which that much he can tell. This little goblin wears a torn grayish hooded robe, revealing that he has a hidden black leather armor beneath with a belt around it holding many pouches. He can sense that armor has an abnormal aura around it, hinting that it is magically enchanted.


    This is a very strange and peculiar goblin he has ever seen.


    ¡°Little one, why have you released me from this seal? I do have you to thank for this, but still, what is your motive?¡± The beast said as he released some steam from his maw.


    Glenn closed his eyes with a smile as he basks in the dust that still drifts around. He turns his head to the beast and opens his eyes, throwing his arms in the air and yells out in the ancient tongue as well.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Dominus Bestia, I have released you from your confinement by the ancestors of these fools that still live in this town today. My people, have had their land taken from them! By these same humans¡­ We grew tired of losing more land, so before we wait for it to happen to us again¡­ We decided to strike back to prove our worth in this world! As for you, all I ask is that you aid us to take back what is rightfully ours! My people will thank you once we get back our revenge and strike a crippling blow to the humans with vengeance!¡± Glenn finished with a bow to show some respect to the Beast.


    The beast¡¯s eyes flash for an instant.


    ¡°You speak the truth, very well¡­ I will lay waste to this village, but only this village since this is the land to where I was sealed at and as payment for you to releasing me. As for aiding you and your people in this war against the humans, I will not be a part of.¡± The beast said with discontent to the suspicious goblin.


    ¡°Of course, Dominus Bestia! I Glenn, thank you on behalf of my people. It is an honor to fight along an ancient and mighty beast, such as you. After this event of destruction upon this town, we will make our separate ways and my people will never pester you ever again. And to that, I wish you a long and prosperous life.¡± Glenn proclaimed while keeping his head low, smiling and eyes closed keeping his right hand palm opened, in front of his heart as the other stretched out with his palm open on that one as well.


    The beast flashes his eyes once again.


    ¡°Very well, Glenn the goblin¡­ I will begin my rampage. See to it that your people, too will keep upon your proclamation. And with that, I bid you and your people, a bountiful hunt for vengeance.¡± The beast turns around and stomps off, toppling over a building that was in his path with his right hand.


    Glenn grins wickedly, as he reaches into a pouch, fetching a rough cut onyx. The onyx is five inches in diameter.


    ¡°Oh, I will have a good¡­ Bountiful hunt though.¡± Glenn breathes in through his nose while smiling.


    ¡°Oh what is this? I do believe I smell a rat¡­¡± He places the stone back in his pouch and turns around to the direction that he senses a presence of a human that he doesn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°Fortunately for my newest victim, I have no choice but to conserve my mana for now. So I suppose I will have fun tormenting this fool to death.¡± He cackles as he leans up against the stone walls by camouflaging himself to stalk the unsuspecting Rufus.

 Chapter 12 Tempting a Soldiers Honor

    Rufus increased his stride, seeing the beast has started to move to the center of the town which worries him the most since that¡¯s where the academy is closest to. Suddenly he halted due to having a bad feeling in his gut, as if he knows he¡¯s being watched. He tightens his grip on his sword, closes his eyes and breathes in and out slowly to focus his surroundings.


    When suddenly, out from the shadows comes Glenn with his ceremonial dagger seeking Rufus¡¯ back! Only to be blocked by Rufus¡¯ claymore! Before Rufus could throw Glenn off and swing with all his might, Glenn already jumped five feet back and another five feet.


    ¡°Well well, what do we have here¡­? Someone dressed up differently and possibly important, but with skill? I suppose I have time to play around with you. Luckily for you, I¡¯m fighting you off with a handicap, since releasing that ancient one over yonder stressed my body and mind out after all.¡± Glenn chuckles.


    ¡°You¡­ A goblin that brought fourth that giant beast? Are you perhaps working with ex general Karr?¡± Rufus asked with a stern look on his face.


    ¡°Ex General Karr? You actually know that big oaf? Ha ha¡­ Please do tell, how you know of him. If you can give me some light on that mysterious giant, I may just make your death quick and painless heh heh.¡± Glenn smirked, while flaunting his ceremonial dagger around.


    Rufus stood, unmoved by the taunts already thinking, ¡®He knows of Karr, but is asking for information but didn¡¯t deny that he is working with him. Perhaps there¡¯s some discord between these two?¡¯ Rufus steps lightly and slowly just a few feet towards Glenn.


    ¡°So you want to do this the hard way then¡­ Very well, I suppose I can make you squeal!¡± Glenn started with a frown, and then he pulled his other dagger out with his left hand and charged towards Rufus.


    Rufus anticipated Glenn¡¯s movements, so he swung lightly and quickly from his right to a downward left strike. Glenn reacted by sliding underneath the swing and tried to stab Rufus¡¯ knee with his ceremonial dagger, but Rufus kicked Glenn¡¯s grip to the side with his right foot. Glenn attempted to stab the back of Rufus¡¯ lower right leg but scraped the boot instead, leaving an open slit through it. Rufus kicked with enough force to send Glenn rolling, but Glenn braced himself for the force and barrel rolled to get away from Rufus. After Glenn rolled a good twelve feet away from Rufus, he jumped up from his side for a recovery and then started to clap his hands with both daggers still gripped.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well done, I suppose I have to congratulate you for your battle prowess.¡± He stopped clapping.


    ¡°Probably because you must¡¯ve been quite chummy with Karr back then when he was your superior. Tell you what, share with me all of your epic war stories with Karr and I will let you live¡­ After all, you living will be a good deal for not just you, but for this country. So you can have a chance to stop Karr from his ¡®Evil deeds¡¯ heh heh. What say you?¡± Glenn said, pointing his ceremonial dagger towards Rufus while grinning.


    Rufus thought about it for a moment, while he noticed his lower back leg started to bleed. He thought about making a compromise by exchanging information on Karr that the other side wouldn¡¯t know. But, he held onto the good memories he had with Karr, the memories and his last meeting with Karr to show, that he still has some light in him. Just barely, deep down somewhere, Rufus knows that Karr still has a good heart, or not. Maybe the thought that Karr has fallen into the wrong path, and just needs help to be guided to the right path once again.


    The thought of finding Karr and maybe saving him, kept Rufus determined. Determined to save this country from whatever ill future lays before it. He knows Karr is not evil, not as evil as this manipulative goblin.


    This goblin who is just as twisted as his knife.


    That¡¯s right! Maybe this goblin might¡¯ve manipulated Karr somehow; Karr must be stuck in a scenario that he can¡¯t get out of. This thought of Rufus¡¯ made him to never sway to this goblin¡¯s treachery. Rufus released his guard for a moment, that moment to make Glenn feel like he won Rufus over. But Rufus stood tall and pointed his claymore towards Glenn.


    ¡°I swore to save my country and¡­.. My comrades, no matter how low they have fallen!¡± Then he immediately went back into his defensive stance, while lightly focusing his energy to heal his wound in his leg with self-recovery magic that he adopted years ago.


    Glenn gave Rufus a disgusted stare.


    ¡°You¡¯re one of those guys¡­ Guys like you do take some time¡­ To Break! Fortunately for you, I don¡¯t have the time nor luxury to break you. So be it.¡± Glenn said as he felt the presence of two goblins looming from behind him.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t want to spend my time and energy to kill you with all I got. So I¡¯ll allow these fellows to play with you!¡± Glenn wickedly grins.


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t already guessed by now, I never fight fair.¡± His grin grows bigger as he senses two more joining the rear. Rufus lets out a sigh, as Glenn opens his arms wide and laughs hysterically while the first two goblins pass by Glenn, one on each side. The clouds start to rumble, a storm is brewing.

 Chapter 13 Riding the Storm Out

    ¡°It''s about time you''re awake. I¡¯m starting to worry about the town, more so for you though. Are you able to move?¡± Zee asked Jake as Jake stirs to wake up from the sound of thunder above.


    ¡°I think so¡­ I¡¯m not as soar as I was earlier. That sleep by the river side earlier helped out much from my daily training.¡± Jake said while yawning and looking up to the darkened skies through the trees¡­ It didn¡¯t feel right to Jake so he shot up!


    ¡°Whoa! Calm down, there ranger¡­ you just passed out from a cut wound after that goblin fight. You gotta take it easy there, I may have healed it and disinfected it but, you really need to rest it out a bit more.¡± Zee said while trying to hold the brute down.


    ¡°Okay, I will relax a bit for now, how long was I out by the way?¡± Jake asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d say a good half hour or so.¡± Zee replied.


    ¡°A half hour?! Have any more of those strange goblins showed up?!¡± Jake asked in surprised.


    ¡°Not over here at least, it seemed that a couple of them went into town¡­¡± Zee replied hesitantly. Knowing that Jake wouldn¡¯t accept the goblins to walk into town like that, Zee tried to hold him down again with reasoning.


    ¡°Jake, for now you need to rest, let the guardsmen deal with the goblins. Have faith in them please¡­¡± Zee pleaded but Jake still stood up, putting on his shirt and jacket.


    ¡°Zee, you know I can¡¯t turn a blind eye to those goblins running amok in town. Not since I fought that one head on like that. They¡¯re abnormal¡­ I¡¯m worried if our guardsmen can even handle them the way they are now. Still, it is our duty for us to defend the town. Foreign and domestic threats. Though in this case, I suppose it¡¯s counting as both?¡± Jake pondered as he got sidetracked from his monologue.


    Zee let out a deep sigh, ¡°I really can¡¯t argue with you in this one too. You have always been the stubborn one. But the good hearted type of stubborn. That is the trait of yours that I admire the most. Very well, whatever suicidal choice you take, I got your six o clock partner. So let¡¯s ride out in that sunset as the town¡¯s best duo it has ever seen!¡± Zee said after tilting his hat with his left hand.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the sun set in the west, and we¡¯re heading east?¡± Jake said while crossing his arms and cocking his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s a figure of speech, hinting that this evening isn¡¯t over yet and has only just begun for us.¡± Zee explained while waving his left hand around.


    ¡°Oh okay, so where should we begin? Straight east? Or bend around somewhere for a flank?¡± Jake asked, hoping that Zee has been paying attention to the events around town while he was passed out.


    ¡°First you should drink this while I lay out our plan¡­¡± Zee fetched a vial out of his belt, its contents contain orange liquid with brown powder sitting at the bottom of it.


    Jake takes it and pops the cork off, then chugs it down his throat.


    ¡°Tastes funky, but it¡¯s a bit strong.¡± Jake said in amazement.


    ¡°I made that during our alchemy lessons in class just for you, I know you like strong flavors of your beverages which is good for the effects of this potion. As for the taste though, I¡¯m still working on it. As long as you can stomach it, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Zee said while closing his eyes acting all coyly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say, I feel revitalized already!¡± Jake said with a boost of confidence.


    ¡°Not only does it restore your energy, it also sooths your aches and pains. With that, you should be better than you were before that goblin encounter.¡± Zee said with a smile as he looked towards the town and it turned to a serious look.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t over exert yourself and don¡¯t overestimate your strength. Those goblins aren¡¯t normal, and many things are going on in that town. Ranging from smokes and explosions, to a random beast moving towards the center¡­¡± Zee said in a grim tone.


    ¡°We should get going then¡­¡± Jake said as he looks towards the beast crashing through some buildings.


    ¡°Yeah, we should¡­¡± Zee said as he looks around.


    ¡°We should probably come from the northwest to see if there¡¯s anything out of the ordinary, because while you were out. That thing just happened to appear in the center, so I wonder if It was summoned there¡­ Hopefully we¡¯ll find some clues that might hint us to how to get rid of it¡­¡± Zee pondered while holding his chin with his left hand.


    Jake patted Zee on the shoulder with a warm smile.


    ¡°Then the infamous duo should investigate into it right now.¡± Jake said trying to egg Zee on.


    Zee returned the smile. ¡°Let¡¯s ride out then pard''ner.¡± They nodded their heads and look at the town and the beast one more time, before they both bolted off towards town. The clouds started to drizzle.

 Chapter 14 A Grim Mourning

    Gibbons and Iuke both approached the desolated practice field of the academy. They see bodies of apprentices strewn around, an undeniable wall of melting ice that blocks the southern route from the field and a large crater near the center of the field. Gibbons immediately got off her horse and ran towards the first body she spotted.


    It was the body of Thompson that was shot by the goblin archer that ran with Iuke from earlier. As soon as she realized that wasn¡¯t her sister, she ran to another body, and to another. Iuke also got down from the horses and started to look for a spot to tie them up at. He spotted a tree, so he took their reins and headed towards there.


    Gibbons kept looking and looking, but none of the bodies resembled anything like her sister. She counted the bodies up, including the ones in the distance.


    ¡°Apprentice Winston, how many apprentices we¡¯re in your class?¡± Gibbons asked, while looking for details that she may be missing on the bodies.


    ¡°Not including the instructor, there is only twenty of us in class, master magician.¡± Winston said as he continued towards the tree, and then stopped as he had remembered something that may have been of importance.


    ¡°Oh right, apprentice Lancelin was not with us during practice. I have no idea where he is¡­¡± Winston said as Gibbons was lost in thought.


    ¡°The instructor¡¯s body isn¡¯t here anyways, his coat is blue. You¡¯re alive and here, so that¡¯s minus you and Lancelin. If this is all the bodies of the fallen here, that means one other apprentice is missing.¡± Gibbons stated as she went back to the pile of scorched bodies and looked a bit closer. She noticed one of them, being a body of a female apprentice magician, was missing her head.


    The body figure does resemble her younger sister, but she¡¯s still denying it to be her. She still kept that hope up that her sister is still alive, somewhere. Maybe she is with Instructor Korahk elsewhere in town, fighting the goblins in the south. Maybe they are safe in a building after this battle, hints around the practice field, any magician that took part would be low on mana.


    Iuke continued to walk towards the tree, he glanced around the field then back to the tree. Stomaching in his guilt, he tried to shake off all of his, ¡®What if I stayed? Would I have made a difference?¡¯ thoughts.


    He reached to the tree and started to tie the reins to a branch, swallowing that bad taste in his mouth; he couldn¡¯t help but shake in remorse.


    He remembered what Sergeant Reeves told him, ¡®We all joined the military of this country for many reasons; most of us have the same. Defending our loved ones is the most common one of all. So please, look deep down in your heart and remember what it is that made you join¡¯.


    Iuke fell to his knees and broke down in tears.


    One of the horses started to sniff something that Iuke assumed was just a rock in front of the tree. He turned to face the silhouette, while wiping his eyes with his arm sleeve. He crawled to the rock and noticed, it¡¯s not a rock due to its odd shape and the fact that it¡¯s scorched up. He picked it up and immediately vomited to the side after dropping it.


    It¡¯s the corpse head of the younger sister of Gibbons.


    ¡°Oh what now? Can¡¯t stand the sight of blood or dead bodies?¡± Gibbons said irritably while walking towards Iuke.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The head rolled into her line of sight, she noticed it¡¯s a head but, couldn¡¯t tell who it was. So she ran towards the head, dropped down to her knees, sitting on her back legs and picked it up.


    She stared at the half scorched head of her younger sister for a while, slowly starting to cry.


    After Iuke finished vomiting, he glanced over to Gibbons as she started to mutter to herself, more or less to her sister.


    ¡°Oh sis¡­ My only sister¡­ Diana Gibbons¡­ To leave this world, like this¡­ I know, judging that you¡¯re the only one to be dismembered, that you have fought valiantly¡­ You have grown into a beautiful young woman, studied very well in the arts of magic as it has been in our family history.¡± She slowly stood up, while cradling Diana¡¯s head in her arms facing up towards the sky.


    She walked towards Diana¡¯s headless body, as the drizzle started to rain.


    Iuke watched Gibbons walk towards her sister¡¯s body, as the feeling of guilt weighs down upon his shoulders, gets heavier and heavier as she cuts her distance.


    ¡°You¡­ Had many dreams that you told me of¡­ Some of them, you have fulfilled. As for others¡­¡± She stopped before her sister¡¯s body and looks down to her headless carcass.


    ¡°I¡¯ll at least look after that boy and make sure he grows up to be the country¡¯s proud arch magician that you wanted him to be¡­¡± She said before she knelt down on one knee.


    She arranged her sister¡¯s hood to hold her head in place to her neck. She brushed her sister¡¯s hair and closed her eyelids, and then she gently kissed her forehead as if she was wishing her a good sleep.


    Iuke couldn¡¯t help but be moved by her unbreakable mind, until she turned around and revealed her deranged face.


    Her eyes opened wide, veins on her face bulging and her hair started to appear as a mess. She stared at him with a killer¡¯s intent.


    ¡°Apprentice Winston, you will remain here, by my sister¡¯s side until I come back. If I come back or even give a damn about your wellbeing¡­ Never to leave, under any circumstance¡­ Do I make myself clear?¡± Gibbons said in a calm and eerily tone.


    Iuke tried to remain calm but stuttered instead as he tried to answer.


    ¡°Ye Ye¡­ Yes! Master magician!¡± He replied as he stood up immediately in the position of attention while saluting.


    She turned her gaze from Iuke to the beast that is still rampaging through the town, toppling buildings and sweeping away fellow guardsmen. She makes her way towards the beast in the center of the town. Iuke remained still, until she left, then he started to breathe heavily. After he regained his breathe, he slowly walked towards Diana¡¯s body.


    His guilt came back to him as he looked upon Diana¡¯s half scorched face. This time, the sight isn¡¯t too gruesome for him to vomit.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± He muttered as a tear rolls down his left eye.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for running away from you¡­ From all of you!¡± He yelled as he looked around, at the other bodies that are strewn around.


    He falls onto his knees and started to cry again. ¡®Even if I stayed, I would¡¯ve ended up like them¡­ I can¡¯t fight, my magic is a joke and I¡¯m useless¡­¡¯ He thought.


    Shortly afterwards a guardsman, bloodied and bruised staggered from the south side of the town, spotted Iuke and yelled out to him.


    ¡°You! Yes you, surviving apprentice mage! I.. no we need your help! Please! We have many wounded civilians and soldiers that are on death¡¯s door as we speak! Please help them, even if you don¡¯t have any mana please help me tend to their wounds.¡± The soldier pleaded.


    Iuke looked at him, then towards Diana¡¯s face. The consequences of disobeying Gibbons¡¯ orders did come to his mind, but he knew that he should help out those that are in need. After all, he has practiced healing magic, where else would his practice be put to good use?


    Before the guardsman was going to assume that Iuke is traumatized to the point of no response, Iuke stood up and covered his head with his hood.


    He looked at the guardsman with renewed faith in his abilities and said, ¡°Lead me to them!¡±. He ran towards the guardsman and moved his arm over his shoulder, and they both went off.

 Chapter 15 A Decisive Encounter

    Zee and Jake finally made it to town. Jake is far ahead of Zee since Zee isn¡¯t as fit as Jake.


    Zee had to stop for a breather, then Jake shortly afterwards stopped to check on Zee. Zee motioned him to go ahead into town, Jake nodded and then sprinted further to the northern part of town.


    Zee caught a glimpse from his eye of a shadow of a goblin archer looming from an alleyway that Jake just ran by. Before Zee could yell out to Jake to watch for his back, he immediately pointed his left hand like an improvised hand gun, and fired off a light green ray straight into the goblin¡¯s left eye socket.


    Before the goblin could fall limp, it disappeared into dust.


    Right when that happened, another goblin with a sword and wooden shield, loomed from an alleyway opposite from the archer. He was looking at Jake sprinting off into the distance but then noticed his partner dissipating into dust, leaving behind his belongings.


    The swordsman goblin turned to face Zee, dodging his second ray of light green light, hitting a wall only to slowly creep its way down, dissolving the paint on the stone wall as it goes down.


    The goblin shouted out a battle cry and ran towards Zee, raising his sword in his right hand, pointing it forward as his left hand held the shield to block any other missile Zee may launch.


    Zee let out a sigh while closing his eyes, as he backs up, waving his arms around in the air. He concentrated himself, despite having a bloodthirsty goblin out for his life charging at him. He sensed the water molecules on the ground ahead of him through the flow of mana in his surroundings. He swayed his left arm and grasped his left hand, causing the goblin¡¯s feet to freeze from the little bits of rain water and puddles that he¡¯s running through. With his right arm and hand, he hooked his arm to his chest while keeping the palm of his right hand flat, causing the mud to swirl around the goblin¡¯s feet, making the goblin trip and fall to the ground.


    With the ice around the goblin¡¯s anklets, Zee concentrated on them as a base, and poured his mana causing them to stab immediately into its legs. Severing his ankles off, Zee opened his eyes and nearly gasped in disbelief. ¡°Are you kidding me?!¡± The Goblin started to crawl his way towards Zee like a zombie, not even showing any signs of pain, just his relentless bloodlust.


    In response, Zee fetched another vial out of his belt, this time it¡¯s filled with green liquid. He popped the cork off and chugged it down his throat, while walking backwards. He immediately stopped, trying to stomach the liquid, due to being nearly out of breathe, and expending his mana for the spells he casted.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The goblin crawled its way closer, keeping a weary look on Zee, attempting to block whatever Zee throws at it with its shield.


    Zee spotted a couple of potted plants on a window sill nearby, a bit of a way before the goblin.


    Zee quickly grabbed a glob of mud and molded it into three pebbles. He controlled the water molecules with his own mana to move them out of the mud to harden them into a more solidified state, and then he hurled them with his left hand, at the potted plants to knock them down onto the goblin.


    The goblin noticed them, so he moved his shield above his head. At that moment, Zee swung his body around, to throw another ray of acid at the goblin, but this time with his right hand. The goblin realized the diversion with its unnatural reflexes, moved its shield in front of his face.


    The ray completely missed its mark on the goblin, not even hitting his shield. Instead it hit the ground in front of him. The potted plants, however, one hit and cracked on top of the goblin¡¯s head, the other hitting and cracking on his back.


    Zee closed his eyes again, as he focused the mana flowing around the dust of the cracked plant. He swung his left arm straight in front of him, his palm moving to the right as if he¡¯s slapping an invisible face. The dirt from the potted plant crept down the goblin¡¯s right side of his face, then slid to his left side, covering his whole face with mud. The entire time, he was focusing the rain water to form up above the goblin¡¯s spine with his right hand while its swirling around.


    With his left hand, he poured his own mana to solidify the water into a big icicle, and then drove it down into the goblin¡¯s spine. The goblin soon dissipated into dust, leaving behind its mud covered gear.


    Zee fell to his right knee, almost vomited, but forced himself not to. He sat back, gasping for air, while he looks around his surroundings to spot any more goblins. He didn¡¯t see anymore, he closed his eyes to calm his body down from the adrenaline. ¡®Man, I guess I should start going to Kent¡¯s practices more often¡¯ Zee Thought. He even remembered Korahk¡¯s lecture to him this morning, about how he should improve his skills so that it could save his life.


    After he calmed down a bit, he got up and walked towards the goblin¡¯s gear. He picked the sword up and took it with him, then he headed towards the archer¡¯s gear.


    ¡®It¡¯s a good thing this one has a bow and arrow, since I left mine in the woods. I¡¯m nearly drained out of my mana from that exhausted struggle over there.¡¯ He took his hat off with his left hand, while holding onto the short sword. He picked up the quiver and slung it over his shoulders, then placed his hat back on. ¡®It¡¯s a good thing I practiced with the bow. Not much with the sword¡­ But it¡¯s better than nothing.¡¯ He thought, as he picked up the bow with his right hand.


    ¡®I hope Jake hasn¡¯t run into any of them as well. If he has, I hope he felled them off as quickly as possible. These lil sluggers make more than a good work out.¡¯ Zee thought as he looked down into both alleyways.


    ¡®I can feel the effects of that potion, slowly rejuvenating me. I just have to keep a low profile as I advance deeper into town¡­¡¯ worried Zee as he keeps a low silhouette, while looking around town for any signs of goblin activity before he moves around. ¡®I just hope everyone¡¯s alright¡­¡¯ grimaced Zee.

 Chapter 16 First Thirst for Blood

    Rufus received another arrow, lodging into his right upper arm. He almost lost his grip with his right hand, but he held on as he decked an axe wielding goblin, right in its face with his left hand.


    The goblin pressed on, but Rufus grabbed ahold of this goblin with his left hand, and moved to the side. He used the goblin as a shield to block off another arrow coming for him, hitting the goblin at the back of his skull, causing him to dissipate into dust.


    Rufus grabbed the goblin¡¯s axe and threw it towards the archer after channeling his mana into it, causing it to flare up an electrical energy around the blade. The archer moved to the side, grazing the left arm and cutting the bow of the goblin archer.


    Rufus staggered to stand tall and firm, huffing and puffing loudly. He is drenched, not only in rain water, but in his own blood. He has arrows around his top torso of his body. A spear, lodged onto his left foot, preventing him from moving easily.


    Aside from the dust and belongings of the axe wielding goblin, two more piles of dust and gear from the other goblins that joined the fray, lay around him. The archer pulled out a dagger from his belt with his left hand, and traded it for his arrow from his right hand. The archer circled around Rufus, flanking him from his right while keeping an eye out for Glenn, as if he¡¯s signaling Glenn to initiate the attack.


    Glenn pointed his ceremonial dagger towards Rufus while chuckling.


    ¡°I think it is time we end this charade. I would let you live because you¡¯re just oh so much fun, but you¡­ You yourself already know too much about me. So I will have to end your life. Tell me, what is your name? Stubborn warrior...¡± Glenn asked while raising his head in respect for Rufus as he walks slowly towards him.


    Rufus glanced around from the archer to Glenn.


    ¡°My name is Sergeant Rufus Reeves. Son of Captain Eric Reeves, noble and hero of the Coup de Tat war. I¡­ Sergeant Rufus Reeves, will be the one, to stop you wicked goblin!¡± Rufus stated out with firm resolve to Glenn, as he grips his claymore with both hands.


    Glenn lowered his head and hunched down as he smirked.


    ¡°It¡¯s Glenn, Glenn the wicked goblin.¡± Glenn said with narcissism as he charged straight forward to Rufus.


    Ignoring his stinging and aching pain in his body, Rufus raised his sword up in the sky, preparing for his swing to end this goblin¡¯s evil influence. As Glenn got in range, Rufus immediately swung his sword down to the ground with great strength, but he felt nothing but the muddy ground. Glenn was nowhere to be seen as Rufus looked around. He saw the other goblin charging in towards him, dagger lowered with his right hand, arrow raised in his left.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Rufus, ignoring his pain again, positioned himself properly so he can counter attack the goblin. Though the spear lodged into his foot is no help at all. He raised his claymore up again from the ground, but suddenly he felt a very sharp pain in his abdomen, a slithering constant sharp pain. Rufus dropped his claymore, and coughed up some blood. As he tried to grasp his wound, he found himself embracing Glenn, whom was smirking brighter than before. Before he could throttle Glenn with his left hand, the other goblin lunged at Rufus and grabbed hold of his left arm, and stabbed him in his neck with his dagger in his right hand.


    He wanted to grab either Glenn or the other goblin and pile drive them as one, but his body is depleted of energy to do so. As he had many thoughts rushing into his head, some about his life up to this point, and others of what ifs about the future. He turned to look to the west side of town and saw Jake standing there, his eyes opened wide with horror and disbelief. Part of him thought that he is just imagining his younger brother being there due to him having flashbacks of his life, but it is the real Jake Reeves standing there, being drenched in the rain. He tried to yell, but couldn¡¯t due to having his lungs filling up with blood, so his mouth moved as if he¡¯s saying, ¡°Run¡­¡± His eyes whited out, and he fell over to the other side, hoping that the goblins don¡¯t see Jake standing there.


    ¡°Rufus!¡± Jake yelled out in anger and fear for Rufus¡¯ life.


    So he charged towards the goblin that was on Rufus¡¯ back, his broadsword in his right, his dagger in his left.


    The goblin got off of Rufus to assess the situation, and then reacted by charging back to Jake. Glenn crawled his way from underneath Rufus, since Rufus practically fell on top of him. Jake got in arms¡¯ reach of the goblin and went for a stab with his broadsword, full of determination to lay waste to this creature that killed his brother, no regard for sparing this monster.


    The goblin swung down with his might onto Jake¡¯s sword with his dagger, being unnaturally stronger than Jake, he pushed his sword down. Jake however, having the experience with Zee to fight their first goblin in the woods, he anticipated it to happen and allowed the goblin to push his sword down, so he can bend his left arm to stab at the goblin¡¯s right eye. The goblin knew that Jake is reckless at this point, so he tried to stab Jake in the forehead with his arrow, but Jake reacted by biting the arrow off, tip rolling around in his mouth and continued the stab to the goblin¡¯s eye.


    The goblin with unnatural reflexes, tried to brush Jake¡¯s arm off with his arm. So Jake repositioned the dagger with his fingers, and pulled his arm opposite side to move around and successfully stabbed the goblin in his eye socket. The goblin withered away into dust, revealing Rufus¡¯ dead body in Jake¡¯s view. Glenn got up from the ground and turned, just in time, to see Jake fell the goblin archer. Jake turned his head to the side to spit the arrow tip out, and pointed his broadsword to Glenn and said with bloodthirsty vengeance, ¡°You¡¯re next!¡± Then he charged at Glenn by hooking around Rufus¡¯ corpse.


    ¡°A child that took down one of the cursed ones¡­ You must be a very skilled soldier too. Very well, come at me with all you might!¡± Glenn taunted as he walked around Rufus as well.


    Jake ran in with a loud battle cry while attempting to stab at Glenn. Glenn smirked and blocked his broadsword with his normal dagger in his left hand. Jake tried to stab with his dagger on the side, but Glenn blocked it off with his ceremonial dagger. The two became interlocked, Jake glaring at Glenn with a snarl, and Glenn still smiling at Jake with amusement. A lightning bolt streamed across the skies.

 Chapter 17 Nothing to Lose

    The beast just squashed another soldier, shortly afterwards, another marksman fired off a bolt into his chin. To the beast, it just felt like a needle pricking his skin. He raised his right arm up to make another sweeping swing to knock that marksman away; a lightning bolt just hit him from somewhere, on his exposed spear stabbed wound on his left upper bicep.


    He turns to look where the new contender is at. He saw a woman in a green cloak with her black hair exposed and drenched. Her face looks to be deranged of sorts, carrying a wooden rod with a green gem in the center of it, raised and pointed at him, releasing a volley of icicles. He blocked off the icicles with his right arm, noticing that they¡¯re slowly drilling their way into his arms. He hasn¡¯t felt pain this annoying in years, so he decided to turn all of his focus onto her, this dangerous and annoying mage.


    He raised his head up and took in a deep breathe. Gibbons knew from her previous experience with dragons, that this is some kind of breath weapon. So she waved her arms around and a thick fog started to pour out from her green gem. She immediately ran behind a building on her right and continued to run. The beast released his breath down the road where Gibbons was at. His beam of white light with specks of yellow orbs began pelting the road itself.


    The road is now exposed of a trench with holes, the trench being three feet below the ground¡¯s surface, as the holes are an additional one foot each below the trench. Gibbons kept herself up against a wall; she fetched a bottle with blue liquid and black powder from her upper right cargo pocket. She drank the contents as she turns to her left, and spotted a guardsman approaching her, hesitantly.


    ¡°Master Magician Gibbons, it¡¯s an honor that you¡¯re here. I have come to report to you that the goblins have been for the most part subjugated, as for this new creature¡­¡± He gulps as he noticed the beast started to move towards their direction.


    ¡°Then you and the others that are still alive, should make yourselves useful and throw all of your metal weapons at the back of that damned abomination¡¯s head so I can focus my spells there to down this creature!¡± She said clearly and calmly with an unblinking stare at the guardsman.


    The guardsman shivered in fear as the beast¡¯s footsteps drew closer, and yet, couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved and disturbed to see that Gibbons¡¯ remained unnerved from the beast.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive this thing¡¯s attention, so you better move with a purpose to find the others and fill them in on this plan of mine, so we can all go to our loved ones that are still alive, and live happily ever after! Do I make myself clear?!¡± She demanded from the guardsman, as he instinctively went into the position of attention.


    ¡°Yes Master Magician!¡± The guardsman replied with a firm response.


    ¡°Then be off with you now!¡± Gibbons demanded. With that as his signal, the guardsman ran off, past the building to find his fellow guardsmen.


    Gibbons summoned up some mana to create a vague image of her. She sent it running into the trench, and then made the image disappear right before she felt a slam on the ground. She continued to walk around the building, assuming that she used that image to distract the beast. The beast¡¯s eyes did discern that image to be an illusion created by this mage, but his reflexes of catching movement from the corner of his eye, instinctively made him react to it with force. The display irritated him, so he pushed the roof of the building into the other side of it, thinking he may have squished her. Fortunately for Gibbons, she¡¯s already long gone to the other side of the next building over.


    The beast caught the movement of the guardsman that ran around, so he grabbed some debris near him, and raised his hands over him to throw it in the direction of the movement he caught. Gibbons created some fog from her rod to hide her silhouette, appeared from the other side of the next building, and focused her mana while positioning her left hand in front of her. She formed the rain water that drenched the beast¡¯s face into ice just to block off his line of sight and to grab his attention. The debris that the beast held above his head, he lost grip and it started to fall on top of him.


    Gibbons stopped making the fog, and moved to the next building over. She created another illusion of herself, looking like she¡¯s raising a large icicle spear above her head, with her right arm holding the rod up. The beast brushed off the debris, and ripped off the ice from his face, stripping him some fur of his. Irritated of this mouse hunt, he looked around and spotted the fog covered illusion.


    This time, he didn¡¯t fall for her trick; he just looked around his surroundings, trying to guess where she could be hiding. Gibbons realized that some time has passed by, and started to ponder, why her distraction isn¡¯t working. The beast raised his head up in the sky, breathing in slowly again, just to release a longer breathe attack at the surrounding buildings.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Gibbons heard his breathing, and knew what he was going to do. So she threw her empty bottle to the building next to the one she¡¯s hiding behind. The sudden cracking sound drew the attention of the beast. So he immediately released his breathe in that direction, flattening the building down.


    Gibbons undressed her cloak, and covered up a barrel with it, and positioned the barrel behind another barrel. Then she started to move silently around the building towards her dissipating illusion, after she heard the beast trample to the flattened building. She ran through the trenched road, avoiding obvious rain puddles in the holes. She hopped out of the trench and darted around another building.


    The beast made his way to the trampled building, and looked around. He took some time, and then spotted her green cloak. He can tell this time, it¡¯s not an illusion, so he raised his head up and took a long breathe. Gibbons peeked around the corner of the building, and saw the beast readying another breathe attack. She looked to her far off distant left side and saw at least seven confirmed guardsmen, running towards the beast with fully armed metal weapons. She smiled and moved to the side of the house, exposing herself in the open and focused her mana above her to form a large icicle above her head.


    The beast fired his breathe into the direction of the cloak. He leveled the area down sometime after releasing his breathe. He looked at the destruction that he caused, and raised his head in assurance as he saw blood spilled into the opened front of the building. As he breathed in the air with ease, he realized that he smelled wine, from the direction of the new trench. Shortly afterwards, he heard a whistle from his right, as he turned to look, his face was decked by a giant icicle. He toppled down as the icicle shattered into many shards. The guardsmen witnessed the spectacle and cheered as they rushed with their weapons to the exposed beast¡¯s head.


    Gibbons knelt down, coughing up blood into the palm of her left hand. She wiped the blood on her drenched black tank top.


    ¡®The next great spell I will cast to finish this creature off, will take a toll on my life. I need to end this quickly, I need to find and be sure that Rufus is safe.¡¯ She thought, as she stood up and focused her thoughts back into this fight.


    She walked slowly towards the beast as the potion¡¯s last effects start to refill her depleted mana. She heard the beast yell in pain and frustration as the guardsmen drove their weapons into his head.


    The beast rolled to his side, and swinging his right arm to knock the guardsmen away from, knocking out half of them unconscious, as the others staggered their way to get up. He ignored the soldiers for now, and drew his focus to search for the annoying witch lady that has caused him the most pain and suffering in this battle. While Gibbons walked towards the beast, she focused all of her mana and her life to use the metal weapons as her base, to call down a natural storm made lightning bolt from the skies to fry the beast up.


    The beast spotted Gibbons, clearly walking towards him with her arms closed and waving her arms around. He couldn¡¯t help but be impressed that a single magician human being has held well against him without fear for ages, before the Leviticus family sealed him. Still, this human witch needs to die.


    He raised his head and drew in his breathe, this time he poured in so much mana in his breathe so he can for sure annihilate this woman. At that moment, Gibbons released all of her mana and some of her life, to call down the lightning bolts upon the beast¡¯s head. Not one, or two but three lightning bolts fell from the sky, pummeling his face and head.


    The breathe he held in, infused with a fourth lightning bolt caused his head to explode, raining down his surroundings with a bloody fashion. The conscious guardsmen cheered with joy at the sight of this creature¡¯s gruesome death. At that moment, Gibbons fell to her knees, vomiting blood. She stopped shortly after, and then coughed a little bit.


    She looked towards the carcass of the beast, her eyes blurring her vision out. She thought to herself, ¡®No, I must find Rufus Reeves, and then I can sleep in peace¡­¡¯ So with her will, she stood up and continued to walk slowly towards the north side of town. The same guardsman that spoke to her from before, found her again.


    He ran towards her and stopped when he noticed that her tank top and cargo pants are covered in blood, and noticed that she still had some coming from her mouth.


    ¡°Ma¡­ Master Magician Gibbons¡­ Are you alright? Let us tend to you¡­¡± He was interrupted by Gibbons as she kept her gaze to the north side of town.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me; go tend to the other soldiers. I have to find Sergeant Reeves; he was supposed to show up over here, so I¡¯m a little worried about him. No, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s alright, after all he is a Sergeant, and he is the only man that I know of who can handle himself well in a battle. The only man I admire¡­ The only man I love.¡± She said as she smiled.


    The guardsman was a little confused at her sentence before the last one and didn''t hear her last one, but understood his orders and so he replied, ¡°Yes Master Magician!¡± with a salute and ran off to the other guardsmen.


    ¡°Yes, I know that Rufus is still alive, I will find him, and I will confess my love for him, to him. Then I can rest peacefully, knowing that at least one loved one of mine is still alive. Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Brenda Reeves. I like the sound of that. It will happen after this¡­ Yes soon. I should name our future daughter after Diana, in memory of her¡­¡± The thought of her happy future with Rufus drove her on.


    Subconsciously, and without knowing, she drew another bottle from her upper left cargo pocket. This bottle has purple liquid in it, so she pulled the cork off and then drank it down as she continued her walk, keeping her gaze towards the north side of town. She threw the bottle to the side up against the beast¡¯s foot with her left hand.

 Chapter 18 The Mockery, A Curse and the Outlaws Entrustment

    ¡°You know, for a child¡­ You sure can take a beating ha ha!¡± Glenn gleefully said as he kicked Jake in his abdomen on the ground. Jake grunted, and tried to get up, but Glenn just kicked him in his head, causing Jake to roll on the ground again.


    ¡°You¡­ Killed my brother, I can¡¯t forgive you, you monster!¡± Jake yelled as he staggered up on one leg.


    Glenn jumped towards Jake, as Jake tried to punch Glenn with his right fist, but Glenn just slapped his wrist to the side with his normal dagger, cutting Jake¡¯s glove and the side of his hand, then Glenn punched Jake in the face, causing him to fall down again.


    ¡°If you had told me anything you know about General Karr, I would¡¯ve probably let you live. Unfortunately, you know nothing of that name at all, so kicking you around is quite exquisite.¡± Glenn said as he stomped on Jake¡¯s right leg, causing Jake to grunt in pain.


    Glenn walked around Jake as he¡¯s smiling, he then stomped on Jake¡¯s left foot with a grin, causing Jake groan louder than before. Glenn raised his head while keeping a watchful eye on Jake as he smirked.


    ¡°I suppose I have some use of you. Yes¡­ You do have promise for a growing child¡­¡± Glenn said as he walked near Jake¡¯s left side.


    Glenn stomped on Jake¡¯s left arm with his left foot, then he pried Jake¡¯s arm to the side, just so he can stomp and stand on Jake¡¯s left hand.


    ¡°You will become stronger, not just for yourself, but for me¡­¡± Glenn said as he looked at Jake¡¯s right arm moving towards Glenn, in an attempt to push Glenn off.


    Glenn kicked Jake¡¯s arm, and then stomped on his right hand, and put his weight on it so he can sort of stand on Jake¡¯s right hand, but he sat down on Jake¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°Stay still, this little ritual will take but a second¡­¡± Glenn said as he moved his ceremonial dagger¡¯s blade to cut his left palm.


    After Glenn cut a slit in his palm, he positioned the dagger above Jake¡¯s heart, and then he plunged the blade and twisting it, to stab Jake¡¯s heart. Jake screamed in agonizing pain, he started to shake in convulsion to grasp the pain. Glenn¡¯s grin grew wider as he rejoices in Jake¡¯s suffering. Glenn pulled his dagger out; the wound eerily healed itself up, and immediately jumped off of Jake. Glenn started to brush his hands together, still holding onto his ceremonial dagger between his fingers.


    ¡°The deed is done, you are now sort of, one of my children heh heh. You may not be a goblin, but I have partaken to you a gift if you will.¡± Glenn said as he turned his head to watch Jake squirm into a fetal position.


    ¡°Do embrace this gift of mine, you will find it, the best motivator for your revenge. The dagger I stabbed you with, is the same that I ended your brother¡¯s life with. Therefore his blood is now seeping into your heart, along with my gift¡­¡± Glenn said, as he turned and pointed at Jake¡¯s eyes, the same eyes that are staring at Glenn with deep inner hatred which Jake has never felt in his entire life.


    ¡°Yes! That look! That hatred, please hold onto that hatred, and become stronger, so that one day, you may just be able to kill me hahaha!¡± Glenn said, reveling in the scene that he has made.


    Glenn walked towards the constant grunting of Jake. He then squatted down in front of Jake, continuing his monologue.¡°This gift would kill those with a weak body, but your body is far stronger than most humans that I have met. I know you can live through this, so keep your head up. You¡¯ll live, you will however be¡­¡±


    Glenn was about to finish his sentence until a random arrow fired off towards his head, so Glenn immediately dodge to his right side, then he saw a ray of green light aiming for him, then he jumped to his left, and hopped back a few paces. Glenn looked to where the attacks came from, he then spotted a boy, with a funky hat, and the rest of the clothes that symbolize, that this child is a mage.


    Zee had his right hand, holding onto his bow, and his left hand holding onto the brim of his cowboy hat.


    He glanced at Jake and said, ¡°Howdy¡­ Pard''ner¡­ Apologies for being late¡­¡±


    Jake smiled grimly and closed his eyes as he passed out from the constant pain that he¡¯s been experiencing. Zee fought the desire to tend to Jake¡¯s wounds, as he keeps a wary eye on Glenn.


    ¡°I swear, you humans in this town just come to me like flies. One after another, each for some reason a bit special in some ways and yet it has to be another child, ANOTHER CHILD! Are my kinsmen not enough to take down this town and its children? No¡­ You¡¯re a mage alright, a decent mage with a stupid head gear on¡­¡± Glenn said as he kept a serious face.


    ¡°Two things that is wrong with that there, mister. One you subdued my best friend there, and two¡­ Don¡¯t you ever badmouth my ten gallon hat¡­ Ever!¡± Zee yelled as he fired off another arrow at Glenn, but Glenn easily just brushed it to the side with his ceremonial dagger.


    ¡°You¡¯re loud, and annoying¡­ I suppose I should just deal with you now, since you reek of the type that would hound me down anyways¡­¡± Glenn stated with disgust.


    Glenn hunched down, readying himself to dash at Zee and possibly kill him off like the way that he killed Rufus.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    What stopped him was that he noticed there is a short sword sticking out from the ground, blade pierced into mud while the metal hilt is still exposed with its leather handle stripped.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Aren¡¯t you gona gut me clean, like a pig in a slaughter house? Or are you just going to stand there, whistling Dixie all day?¡± Zee said with a smirk, goading Glenn one into his trap, so he can fry him up with a lightning bolt from the sky.


    Glenn stood straight up and smiled, and then he started to laugh.


    ¡°The way you talk, you sure are arrogant, and I¡¯m not even sure if you insulted me or not haha.¡± Glenn said as he wiped his eyes clean from rain water.


    Zee stared at him with a serious face, still keeping his wary eye out for him, and worrying for Jake¡¯s health. Glenn caught notice of Zee¡¯s glances towards Jake and back to him.


    ¡°I like you kid, I will keep you alive for now. As long as you don¡¯t chase after me that is¡­ Besides, you need to tend to your best friend over there. Especially after what I¡¯ve done to him, he might not even survive hahah.¡± Glenn said as he raised his arms up in the air.


    Glenn started to walk backwards, while keeping an eye on Zee, as Zee drew in another arrow on his bow while keeping it at low ready. After Glenn gained enough distance he spoke out loud, ¡°Remember this as the day, which you were spared by Glenn the Goblin! With that, farewell and until next time!¡± Glenn said as he bowed down for a moment, then looked back up to see if Zee fired off his arrow or not.


    Zee didn¡¯t but aimed his bow towards Glenn, not releasing the arrow yet. Then Glenn turned around and ran off into the distance, after he passed a few buildings, he changed his course out of Zee¡¯s sight around a tree, just to head towards where he saw the beast last head to.


    Zee relaxed his posture for a moment, and then he dropped his bow and arrow. He ran towards Jake, worried for his life. He knelt down on one knee, assessing Jake¡¯s body. He immediately pulled out more bandages from his pocket, and wrapped it around Jake¡¯s hands after taking his gloves off.


    He took Jake¡¯s jacket and shirt off, and bandaged up other cut wounds. He even replaced Jake¡¯s old bandages. He tore off the pants¡¯ leggings of Jake¡¯s cargo pants, and bandaged those cuts too. He placed his hands on Jake¡¯s chest and concentrated his mana throughout Jake¡¯s body so he can find other problems with Jake and possibly restore them.


    He noticed that Jake has a few broken bones here and there, and a couple of internal bleeding in a few places in his body. Zee concentrated his mana to recover those internal bleedings. He was so focused into his work for a while, he didn¡¯t even notice the silhouette of a humanoid figure standing before the body of Rufus until now. He almost went into a fighting position until he realized, it is Master Magician Brenda Gibbons.


    What gave away her identity to him was the rod that she was carrying in her right hand. She was very unrecognizable to him, if not for her rod. He remembered seeing that rod, held by her back when he would visit Jake and Rufus once a while. He can understand why she¡¯s standing in front of Rufus, motionless.


    ¡°Master Magician, if you would, please help me save Jake¡¯s life. Please I beg of you, I know that you¡¯re grieving for uncle Rufus, but please, we must save his younger brother¡¯s life before it¡¯s too late!¡± Zee pleaded as he continued to heal Jake¡¯s wounds.


    Gibbons looked up into the sky, while biting her lip with her bottom row teeth. She turned her head to look slowly at Zee, with her wide open cold dead eyes. Her eyes gave Zee the shivers for a moment and set him on edge. Then she moved her pupils to look at Jake, and then she turned her head to Rufus and continued to stare at him.


    Zee was hesitant to ask for her help any further, but felt like he has no choice since Jake¡¯s life is on the line. Before he could plea again, she holstered her rod into her belt holster and untied her utility belt. She then threw her belt towards Zee¡¯s direction without even looking at Zee; instead she continued to stare at Rufus.


    ¡°Apprentice Magician Zee Lancelin, I¡­ Master Magician Brenda Gibbons, hereby entrust you, with the Gibbons¡¯ family heirloom¡­ After all, it is what my younger sister Diana would¡¯ve wanted¡­¡± Brenda declared as she muttered the last sentence softly, even though Zee barely heard it with his keen perception.


    Zee was lost for words at this very moment, he had questions, but knew the answer as he picked up on what she meant by those words. Apprentice Magician Gibbons must be dead, and now Rufus.


    Before Zee could ask if she had any potions that can heal Jake, she already started to speak.


    ¡°You can use the Gibbons¡¯ rod as an accurate focus to heal Jake¡¯s wounds, as for his broken bones¡­ My belt has a vial in it with white liquid; I believe it had some golden flecks floating around in it¡­¡± Brenda said as she turned her head and viewed Rufus¡¯ claymore.


    She reached to grab for it, and placed the blade on her shoulders while her right hand rests easily on the hilt. She turned to face the east side of town.


    Before she headed off, she turned her head to the left, so Zee can hear her proclamation. ¡°Zee¡­ Please grow up and be the best magician this world has yet to see. My sister wanted to see you rise as a proud magician, not just for this country, but for this world.¡±


    Before Zee could ask her where she was going and why, she already cut him off with a continuation of her monologue.


    ¡°I will be off, to seek vengeance to the only one; I know is behind all of this¡­ A man known as General Karr¡­ please inform Elder Davis this information. He may be able to dig up some clues from the past. I know I will die, but I¡¯m willing to take this bastard down with me¡­ Do not follow me, just stay here and tend to Jake, be there for him since he just lost his brother. He will not be the same after he recovers¡­ I wish you, Zee Lancelin and Jake Reeves a happy and fulfilling life. Farewell young ones¡­¡± Brenda said as she walked towards the east in a fast and silent pace.


    Zee was still lost for words, but he knew that he had to help Jake out. He grabbed the belt, pulled the rod out with his left hand, and continued to heal Jake¡¯s internal wounds with it. Surprisingly it recovered much faster than expected with the rod. After he finished sealing the internal wounds, he searched for the vial with liquid that Brenda mentioned. It did however have golden flecks, but with brown powder floating around it.


    He opened it up and poured it down Jake¡¯s throat. After he was done, he fastened the belt around his waist, above his current belt. He picked up Jake¡¯s belongings and carried him to a nearby shelter, out from the rain. He laid Jake on his Jacket and shirt, and covered Jake up with his own coat, to keep him warm to help ease his rest. Zee sat next to Jake, looking down at the rod that is newly entrusted to him, he gritted his teeth as he thought about the events from today. He lowered his cowboy hat, to hide his tears running down his face.

 Chapter 19 Futile Resistance and Achievement Gained

    Glenn ran faster, faster than he has ran in weeks. The bout he had with the Reeves brothers, and that ridiculous looking magician has taken up his time. He meandered around the buildings, keeping low to the shadows as he passed by a few guardsmen; he can¡¯t afford to waste anymore of his time, toying with other humans for now.


    He followed the path of destroyed buildings, smiling while thinking about the destruction that the great beast has done. He eventually found Dominus Bestia, lying on the ground, head fried and smoking. Luckily for Glenn, the guardsmen are busy tending to the wounded and doing a head count elsewhere.


    Glenn crept up towards the body, and looked around. He smiled brighter as he breathed in the air of this fallen ancient creature, knowing that he didn¡¯t have to strain himself to kill this beast. He even pondered if he has the energy or time to kill it off himself.


    Glenn moved towards the beast¡¯s obliterated head, and fetched out his rough cut onyx out from his pouch. He closed his eyes and muttered a few words in the ancient language. He pointed the gem towards the beast, and sensed the essence of Dominus Bestia¡¯s soul and focused to beckon it into his gem. The process took a minute to do, because Dominus Bestia knew what Glenn was trying to do so he had no choice but to put up a fight.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Glenn, however have done this charade before. He cackled the entire time, Dominus Bestia had never before felt this vulnerable, since the Leviticus family sealed him.


    ¡°Welcome home, old one. Soon you will be fed as a great power source to some sort of¡­ God¡­ After that¡­ Well heheh¡­ You¡¯ll soon find out my new found friend.¡± Glenn gloated as he tossed the gem up in the air and caught it with his other hand without even looking.


    He hid the gem in his pouch, and reached around for another pouch and brandished a red orb.


    ¡°And for the big finale, this one will do all kinds of wonders that will bring much despair to the people in this town, for weeks¡­ Heheh.¡± Glenn said as he hid it in the same pouch again.


    He immediately bolted off, towards the north east of town, unfortunately, he may have to wait it out a bit, he spotted a few civilians and guardsmen moving around, looking for other survivors.


    He felt irritated and weary, but the thought of his final act of chaos and destruction brought joy to him at this very moment. All he has to do is get the great Allan Bridge, do his final deed and then rendezvous with Karr once again. Then they will be off, to their original hideout and plot the next chaos that will come for their future gains. Glenn grinned as he waited.

 Chapter 20 Can Never Turn Back

    Karr stayed at the east side of Golden Glade town, for quite a while. Until he saw the great beast fall down, he nodded his head with his eyes closed, as to approve that Glenn may have done his job, so Karr headed straight towards the great Allan Bridge. The river is about a third of a mile wide, so crossing this bridge will take a few minutes to walk to the other side. The rain and wind picked up a bit, but Karr continued to walk with his arms crossed and eyes closed, knowing his direction well.


    He stopped mid-way after sensing a presence of another being some distance behind him. He assumed at first it would be Glenn, gloating about all the work he has done, when in fact Glenn has done most of the dirty work all day. He opened his eyes and realized that it wasn¡¯t Glenn; it was someone else, with a great killing intent directed towards him. He immediately drew his battle axe and shield, deflecting whatever projectile he sense came flying his way. He bounced off a flying claymore that would¡¯ve plunged directly into his sternum if he had not reacted quickly.


    After the claymore landed a few feet to Karr¡¯s left, he peered to get a good eye of the assailant. As he looked, after a great lightning bolt soared in the sky brightly, nearly blinding him. He sees Brenda Gibbons, her back hunched down, head straight up, staring with a cold deathly focused look upon Karr. He recognized that look before in the eyes of many warriors in his time as General of this country, but he doesn¡¯t recognize the woman herself.


    He glanced to the claymore, and immediately recognized it as Rufus¡¯ sword. He safely assumed that the woman standing far before him is the same woman that was on horseback with Rufus earlier after piecing their faces together, minus her messy hair that is. He lifted his axe up towards her after the sound of thunder from the previous lightning bolt, finally came through.


    ¡°If you value your life, you will turn around and never to track me down ever again, this is your first and final warning.¡± Karr stated calmly and smoothly.


    After his declaration, another lightning bolt, soared across the skies again, this time slightly lighter, and the thunder came shortly afterwards. He couldn¡¯t hear her response, but he knew what she said by reading her lips. The same exact haunting words, the words that echoes through him till this day of the many lives he took, to get to where he is today. ¡°You took everything away from me¡­¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    He closed his eyes while hearing distant rumblings of thunder off in the distance.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have followed me for your own personal vengeance¡­¡± Karr mumbled, knowing that if he even said them out loud for her to hear, she still would be standing here like she is now.


    She slowly raised her right arm up, her palm opened as if she was reaching out to grab something. The exact moment she stopped, a lightning bolt surged its way down, hitting the claymore as if it was beckoned to. The lightning bolt blasted a side of the bridge, and knocking Karr down, to his right. Karr tried to get up, but as soon as he got to standing on his right knee, Brenda closed her palm, controlling an electrical current to stun Karr to prevent him from further moving.


    She raised her left hand up in the air, swirling it around and stopped, after forming a large icicle above her hand. She advanced slowly and stoically towards Karr, keeping her arms in the same position. As she controls her magic to this extent, blood started to rush from her nose, then from her eyes, and then from her ears.


    She stopped a few yards away from Karr, keeping her cold icy death stare straight into his eyes.


    A lightning bolt streaked across the skies one more time, before she said, ¡°Any last words, before I end your life, at the cost of mine?¡± Shortly after she finished her sentence, the thunderous sound from the lightning bolt from a moment ago, echoed throughout the sky.


    Karr closed his eyes once again, then he reopened and stared at her with a firm look to match her cold icy stare.


    ¡°You should¡¯ve turned back around, when you had the chance.¡± Karr said with his usual calm tone.


    With her irritation of this man¡¯s lack of remorse, or so it appeared to her, she immediately lowered her left arm to plunge her icy spear into Karr¡¯s unmoving face. Karr stood up while throwing the electrical current off with his own mana, and deflected the icicle, by allowing it to slid across his shield and advanced with haste towards Brenda. Before Brenda could summon up a suicidal lightning bolt to smite both of them, Karr already threw his battle axe at her face, splitting her head nearly in two, then he slammed the rim of his shield, knocking her on the ground, rolling to the bridge¡¯s parapet.


    Karr walked slowly towards her body, to retrieve his axe. He turned to the east and continued to walk towards the end of the bridge, closing his eyes again. He thought deeply in his mind, ¡®I spilled the blood, of a fellow devoted countryman, I can never turn back now¡­¡¯

 Chapter 21 Only a Stepping Stone, to a Greater Goal. End of the First Arc

    When he finally got to the end of the Allan Bridge, he stopped as he sensed another presence. This time, he knew for sure it¡¯s Glenn. He opened his eyes, and turned his head to his left side, spotting Glenn through his peripheral vision, leaning up against the parapet of the bridge, looking coy as he usually does.


    Shortly afterwards, he felt and heard an explosion that is very close to them. He assumed Glenn blew up the center of the bridge, like they had planned since the beginning, to make sure none other would follow them. Glenn stood up, and turned to face Karr, and then he bowed down to him.


    ¡°And with that finale act, the play is done. I hope you enjoyed the show, you have been a wonderful audience my old friend.¡± Glenn said with a grin towards Karr.


    ¡°The play will still go on. For if not, it will leave a bad taste in my mouth if we leave it as it is for now.¡± Karr said coldly, as he turned his head towards the horizon of the great Unum Plains.


    ¡°We still have the other three seals to break, that the Leviticus family left behind¡­ I know of where one is at, and we will have to restock on our resources for that one. As for the other two, it¡¯ll take some time to dig up research on their whereabouts¡­¡± Karr said as the storm starts to calm down.


    ¡°Sounds like work for Evan and that elven witch to deal with. You know we can¡¯t risk my exposure into human settlements, I might get discovered and then leave a trail of corpses behind heheh.¡± Glenn said as he rubbed his chin.


    ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right on that, we¡¯ll have to send a few agents throughout the land, to pick up hints of anything about the Leviticus family. I¡¯m sure there are leads still out there. At least, for the seals¡­¡± Karr said while searching for their horses from where they last left them at.


    He couldn¡¯t find them, assuming that some bandits or passerby¡¯s may have taken them, or a predator, perhaps the horses broke off the branch they were tied to in desperation fear of the thunderstorm.


    ¡°By the way, who was that mutilated head of a woman from earlier? A fan of yours?¡± Glenn asked with a smirk while fumbling with the onyx that bears the sealed soul of the beast from earlier.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°She was just a fellow countryman that fought valiantly for her country. She put her life on the line, knowing full well of the risks that would follow for her decision¡­¡± Karr said in his usual calm tone.


    ¡°To bad she died swiftly, I would¡¯ve had so much fun torturing her during our travels. I can imagine her going mad midway haha. So to sate my thirst of torturing a woman, I decided to plant that orb bomb, into her neck, it took some time to force it down, but it was well worth spent. Of course, I also forced her soul into this here gem¡­¡± Glenn said as he fumbled into his pouch for a smaller onyx gem, and tossed it to Karr.


    Karr caught it with ease, and he looked at it, holding back his empathy, so Glenn wouldn¡¯t use it against him in any way. He pocketed the gem into his right pouch.


    ¡°As for the beast?¡± Karr asked.


    In response, Glenn tossed the bigger onyx to Karr while smirking. Karr caught it with his other hand. He looked into the onyx, feeling the power, emanating from the gem.He can tell this creature will surely sustain their new god for a better world. He pondered if he should even hold onto Brenda¡¯s soul and release it when no one notices. Karr pocketed the beast¡¯s gem into his left belt pouch, and continued to walk towards the plains.


    ¡°Let us be off Glenn, we have a long road ahead of us, with no ride, and no provisions.¡± Karr said as he strode off.


    Glenn followed him while crossing his arms behind his head.


    ¡°Karr, my old friend. It¡¯s like you don¡¯t know me at all. You know I don¡¯t require sustenance, nor sleep to do the things I do heheh. Of course I need rest to replenish my mana, as do every living creature does. If you can consider me living that is heheh.¡± Glenn said while smiling.


    ¡°I suppose¡­ I do have a filled water skin and one day¡¯s worth of rations in my pouch. I can go for a few days without food. Regardless, it will be a long walk ahead of us.¡± Karr said while he continues his march.


    ¡°We should, most definitely run then, so we can cover more ground and shorten our distance. After all, our destination is¡­ On the other side of the friggen country!¡± Glenn shouted with impatience while stamping the ground repeatedly with his left foot.


    ¡°And we will, after I contact Evan or Emma. For now, I just want to walk in peace for a while. Today¡¯s events have been very weary on us today.¡± Karr said with his casual stoic tone.


    ¡°It is peaceful to walk through these plains, if one hasn¡¯t passed through many sceneries such as this, like I have for the¡­ Past few centuries of my travels throughout these lands.¡± Glenn mumbled while he kept up Karr¡¯s pace.


    Karr overheard his mumbling and even thought to himself, ¡®More of a reason to keep an eye out for this goblin¡­¡¯ The two continued to march off, into the cloudy evening horizon