Bowstring twanged; the arrow raced across the gap silently. Sinking deep into the neck of the far-off target. A sudden cry of pain echoed through the cavern as the goblin fell from the stone bridge into the abyss below. Trunklike snout flailing as it faded from sight.
It was rare to find goblins on their own. Likely, it was just one set to act as a guard or lookout. Its death cries would alert any others who called the caverns within the Arggis Mountains home that they were no longer alone. Only a matter of time before more came to search for their injured comrade, or those that had attacked.
“I fucking hate goblins,” scoffed Terra as he reached for the quiver at his hip. Arrow at the ready, he turned to face his companion. “I thought we came to hunt a cyclops?”
“We did,” answered Nix, her staff in hand. A rod tall as its owner, carved from the white wood of a magius tree. Adorning the top was the effigy of an owl. Embedded into the staff where folded wings met was a large crystalline orb the same sapphire as its owner’s eyes.
Terra pulled back his arrow and let it fly. A second goblin had come into view on the bridge. Taken down as easily as the first. “Well, these look like goblins to me. So, where’s our cyclops then?”
Nix rolled her eyes. “It’s probably beyond the goblin sentries. You don’t expect the king to fight while the foot soldiers are plentiful, do you?”
With a shrug, Terra stowed away his bow. “It’d be great if the bastard could just show himself. Do you think they’ll pay extra for the goblins?”
“Is the gold all you care about?”
Running fingers through his short cropped sandy hair, Terra let out a greedy laugh. “And what? You’re in this for the fame? Don’t try and lie to me, you want the gold as much as I do.”
“Well, of course I want the gold.” Nix rose to her feet and swept her way further into the tunnel. Ducking behind a nearby stone wall to keep herself hidden from any potential goblins that might step onto the distant bridge.
Terra leaned around the corner of the wall he used for cover. Coast clear, he dashed over to be by Nix’s side. “You want gold, but you think helping people is the important part.”
Nix gave Terra a light shove. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“I’d say it is.”
“Then you’re horrible.”
“True, but at least it keeps my belly full, and my bed warm at night.” Arguing like this was not uncommon for the two of them. Over the last year of adventuring with each other, the pair had found amusement in trying to find the best way to bring annoyance to the other on each mission.
Circling around Nix, Terra checked to see if the path was clear. Following the left path led to an alcove with a clear water lake. A chest sat half submerged at the lake’s center. To the right was a narrow incline that would connect them to the stone bridge that Terra had snipped the goblins off of. He relayed the options to Nix. Making sure to mention the chest second as he knew she would have something to say about it.
“I don’t trust it,” Nix looked at him with half hooded eyes. “We should leave it.”
“You always want to leave chests,” Terra leaned his head back and groaned. “Can we at least check this time?”
Nix had never let Terra open any chest they came across on their journeys. Not since the first one he had found during their first quest together. One he’d failed to realize was a mimic, ending with her having been bitten. Hanging halfway from the thing’s mouth while Terra tried to aim his shot so as not to hit her in the process.
“Will it make you feel better if I open it?” he asked. “Not every chest is a mimic, you know?”
“But you said it’s just sitting there,” she reminded him. “Who leaves a chest in the center of a flooded room?”
“They’re fucking goblins!” Terra bit. Nearly yelling before he caught himself. “A dozen of them share a single mind.”
Nix sighed. “Fine. But when you get swallowed, I get to laugh at you.”
“Deal.” The pair of them took off toward the chest. Terra kept his bow at the ready as he kept his eyes on the path leading the other way. If any goblins rounded the corner, it would be up to him to take it out. As the sound of sloshing water echoed off stone walls, he turned around. Now it was Nix’s turn to keep an eye out as Terra popped open the chest—or attempted to, if it really was a chest.
Cupping the iron lock hand, Terra reached into the pouch hanging from the backside of his belt. Retrieving a set of picks. Playing around with the tumblers within, he managed to release the mechanism that held the lock shut. Tossing it off to the side, he unlatched the chest and swung it open.
Velvet lined, it was truly a container and not a beast faking to devour unsuspecting travelers. Inside he saw a pearl the size of an apple. Smooth black surface polished to the point it seemed to shine on its own.
“This is worth a fortune,” Terra smiled. “We can take a year off from caves and forest after we fence this off.”
Nix turned to see what Terra was talking about. Mouth hung open as she stared at her reflection dance across the treasure they had found.
“Glad you listened to me?” Terra asked.
Nix dropped to her knees. Ignoring the chilled water that now soaked into her skirts. A steady hand reached for the pearl. Of the two, she had been the one more likely to leave such a thing behind, yet she was the first to want to cup their new find in hand.
Howling in pain, Nix pulled away a bloodied hand. Sharp teeth filled the large crack in the peal’s surface.
Nix had been right. There was a mimic. She angled her staff so that the owl aimed down toward the nasty little creature, and released a burst of blue-white light that caused the mimic to disintegrate into a pile of ash. “I told you there would be a mimic.”
Terra held back a smile. “I know, you did warn me. Though I must say, I’m shocked that it hid itself inside a chest instead of as a chest.”
When the two of them returned to the guild hall to report a mission complete, they would have to be sure to share this story with some of the others. Though, it was unlikely anyone would believe them. For a mimic to be that smart was unheard of.
“We should finish the hunt for the cyclops,” Terra said.
“Hold on.” Nix continued to examine the chest. Catching that the bottom of the chest was not properly attached to the rest. A barely noticeable bend in the corner lifted it away from the siding. Picking at it, she managed to get a hold of the material and pulled it back. Revealing that it had been a false bottom that hid away the true treasure.
Sitting in the hidden compartment was yet another black pearl. Half as large as the original one they saw, it would still fetch a hefty price if they could sell it off. And once more, Nix took it upon herself to reach for the treasure and take it for herself. Hand stopping right before she took hold of it. Smiling, she turned back to Terra. “Why don’t you take it?”
“Why me? You’re the one who—”
“Just take it.” Clearly, she was not willing to risk this pearl being yet another mimic. While it was unlikely to be one, there was understanding in why she would be worried about such a thing.
Relenting, Terra reached in and plucked the pearl free. Rolling it across his palm, it seemed to be nothing more than a rare find.
Nix pouted. “Why am I always the one mimics bite?”
“Maybe you’re just that sweet,” jested Terra as he put away the black sphere. Tucking it in the same pouch as his thief's tools.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“Ha, ha,” Nix groaned.
No more goblins appeared as they traveled further into the cavern. Bloodstains long since dried lined both the floor and walls as they found themselves in a tunnel just wide enough for them to march in a single file. Too narrow for the cyclops to get through. If there had truly been one terrorizing the farmlands at the base of the mountain, then there would have to be another pathway out of the caves it had used. Meaning those stains must have come from previous would-be heroes that were attacked by the goblins.
Nix shuddered as Terra considered that the goblins had been killing those who came to vanquish the cyclops. Offering their mangled bodies as food to their massive leader.
“It makes the most sense,” he continued on. “They feed it, and it doesn’t eat them.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to talk about it,” Nix sounded like she would be sick to her stomach. Her forward momentum stopped as she walked into Terra’s extended arm.
A finger was pressed to his lips as Terra crept forth. He left his bow on his back. Choosing to instead draw the dagger he wore on the hip opposite the one where his quiver hung.
Nix stepped as quietly as she could to stay right behind her companion. Both stopping at the terrace edge. Looked down at the group of slumbering goblins that encircled the massive form of the cyclops. Two dozen or more filled the space between them and their target.
Nestled in a mockery of a bird’s nest made of dried straw, the massive creature was surrounded by the bones of various victims. Both of men and beasts. Smears of red still stained the skin around its lips. Freshly fed.
“Shit,” Terra whispered. Putting away his blade. Both his weapons would be useless with the sneer number of opponents they would need to fight. Unless he could find a vantage point where he could rain arrows upon the cyclops where the goblins would not be able to swarm him. And even if he found a place where he was safe from goblins—which he thought impossible to do—it was likely the cyclops would still be able to reach him. Staring at the hill of a beast, he had to guess it stood nearly fifteen feet high.
His attention then turned to Nix. Finding a secure place for himself would mean leaving her to her own. Competent as she was there was no chance she could take on a small army on her own. Without the cyclops, he was sure she could manage the goblins. And thought it was true when it came to the reverse.
Separating the minions from the leader would be difficult, but if they could their odds would increase greatly.
“Leave it to me,” Nix said, pushing Terra back behind herself.
“It’s not safe to use that here,” Terra argued.
“This is exactly where I should use it.” Holding her staff out before her, Nix twirled it. Blue flames came to life at the ends of her tool. Will-o-wisp left behind in the air; five burning orbs that each outstretched to one another. Drawing a pentacle that collapsed in on itself. Now a raging ball of flames the size of a wild hog.
“Stop it,” Terra spoke through grit teeth.
“I know what I’m doing,” Nix ignored his warning. Bringing her staff to a halt, Nix pulled her arms back and then pushed them forward. Launching the ball of flames at the center of the sleeping chamber. Landing it directly atop the cyclops.
On contact, the sphere of flames erupted into a white-hot dome of flaming death. Engulfing the chamber; shockwaves and concussive bursts of heat beat upon the duo as the magic raged on. Nix was inexperienced in the use of that spell. Finding herself drained, she collapsed to her knees.
Terra jumped to her side and wrapped his body around hers. “You idiot.” To emphasize his claims, stalagmites crashed into the raging flames from on high. Clouds of dust and loose stone showered the pair within the tunnel.
“I did it,” Nix’s words were slightly slurred as she bobbed from one side to another in her companion’s arms.
“You sure did, you started to bring the entire cave down.” Terra helped get her to her feet. Looping her arm around his neck and shoulder to keep her weight supported. Her staff held her hand that wrapped around her waist. Losing that would cause her to verbally bash him relentlessly until he helped her to carve or buy a new one. So, it was worth taking the time to position it in a way that kept it from slowing them down as they made their escape.
If her fireball spell hadn’t left her completely drained of mana, Nix would have been in her right mind and able to protect them from debris.
Squeezing through the narrow path was difficult while dragging Nix at his side, but Terra managed to get them both safely through as they reached a spot where the path widened enough to make the journey more comfortable. Just in time as wild screeching echoed back the way they came.
Flame-scarred goblins marched through the narrow tunnel and were rushing toward the pair. They must have slept near the edge of the room, far from the cyclops itself to have survived the flames. Pained and angry, the creatures were in a frenzy that would not be satisfied with just the death of those who had invaded their home.
Terra placed Nix against the wall with her staff laid across her lap. Readying his bow, he nocked an arrow and took out the first goblin. One by one, he shot at them. Each arrow sank deep between the bulbous eyes of his foes. Killing them in a single blow as sharpened steel cut through their skulls and severed their brains.
Fast as he was with his shots, he would not be able to take them all out before they broke free. Knowing this, he braced his bow against the wall where the path began to open up. Making a blockade between him and the slobbering goblins on the other side. In their frenzied state no goblin would think to climb under the bow. Leaving them trapped in place. But Terra was trapped as well. It took both hands to keep the bow secure enough to hold them back. If he tried to reach for his dagger that would allow them to stampede right over him. However, he knew the wood of his bow would not hold forever. Soon enough the weight of the monsters he held back would cause a fracture in the frame, which would lead to it snapping in two.
Muscles strained and veins bulged as he held back the relentless force of the last four goblins. Arms and forehead glistening with sweat. Terra turned to face Nix. Needing her help, hoping that she had gotten out of her loopy state.
Much to the chagrin of Terra, Nix had fallen asleep. Pain overwhelmed him; arms dropping as his bow clattered to the stone. Goblins trampled over him. Not having realized that their path had opened up and they needn’t use as much force to push forward. Rushing beyond the two that they hunted.
By the time they had noticed that they had run by Terra and Nix, Terra had gotten to his feet with his dagger drawn. Standing guard over the sleeping form of his companion. Laying down his life so he could protect her, knowing Nix would do the same for him.
Blade bit through flesh as the first goblin jumped toward the two adventurers. Blood trailed along the floor as the beast retreated. A deep gash stretched across its trunk. Urging on the next goblin to attack. Resulting in that one having to retreat with a stab wound in its shoulder.
This pattern continued until each goblin bore two or three wounds each. Wounded, they seemed to finally realize that they had a numbers advantage. Two charged Terra at once.
Terra delivered a swift kick to the closest goblin, but the second one managed to get in close. Fangs sank deep into flesh; tearing through sinew and muscle in his thigh. Howls of pain echoed as he pulled back his leg. Goblin still attached as it refused to release its jaw. A decision that caused a swift end for the scarred beast as steel pierced through its skull. Only three remained.
Two more—the two who had not attacked in a group yet—charged. Coming at Terra from both sides. The longer they fought, the more they seemed to think.
Terra wished he had his bow on him at that moment. But he’d left it where it fell. Using it would allow a swift end to one of his attackers, even if it meant exposing himself to the other. But that would happen either way with them flanking him on both sides. Making him regret only owning the one dagger.
In a moment of desperation, his body moved on its own, taking an arrow in hand and using it as a second blade: a makeshift polearm to help fend off his attackers. Stabbing both arrow and dagger out to his sides to threaten the points toward both foes. Causing both to back away from him and give him time to think of his next move.
Glancing over his shoulder, he looked upon the sleeping form of his companion. Focusing on the staff he had laid out across her lap. Could he use the same power that she could just by holding the staff? He’d never asked her how magic worked. Was it a power within the person, or within the tools they used? Pain thrummed down his leg as he bent down to collect the staff. Even if he would not be able to draw upon magic, it would still be a useful tool. The added reach would allow him to attack the foul creatures before they got close enough to strike back.
Hesitation held back the goblins. Taking shaky steps back; shoulders pulled back. They seemed to understand that it was the staff that caused the fiery explosion that had killed their brood.
Terra held the staff out and the goblins scrambled against the far wall. Weary steps carried him closer toward them. Each step was nearly his last as throngs of pain threatened to buckle his leg from under him. He had to lean against the staff when he was halfway to his targets.
Fear melted away the moment his body faltered. Three goblins tackled him to the ground; staff sent clattering away from his hand as the air was knocked from his lungs. A warm, wet sensation spread across the back of his head. Gasping for breath, Terra’s vision swam. Three goblins became six, became nine, and so on. Even if he had the strength to attack, he was unable to tell where the true flesh monsters stood.
Hands held down his wrist. Arms locked into place. Claws dug into the meat of his throat, sentencing him to a slow death. Terra flailed against the force of the goblins, but it was all for naught. Tears welled in his eyes as shadows gnawed at the edges of his vision. In what seemed to be his last moments, his thoughts went to Nix. How he had failed to save her.
Air rushed into his lungs as the smell of smoldering flesh grew heavier in the room. Arms freed as the remaining two goblins ran off. The sounds of their deaths echoed in the distance.
Flipping around, Terra saw Nix standing firm in all her glory. Staff held out in the direction of the cyclops’ nest. Following where it pointed, he saw two charred lumps that must have been the goblins that had pinned down his arms only moments ago.
“Thank you,” he spoke through the pain. Voice raspy.
“No, thank you,” Nix offered up. She came to his side and helped to ease his pain. Magic mending the damage to his throat and leg. Pain still lingered, however, the physical damage had been reverted enough to let him walk around and speak without risk of causing more harm to his body.
“Should we go and make sure the cyclops is dead?” Terra asked. After all, if it was not killed off, they would not get paid.
Nix shook her head. “It should have perished in the flames. And if not, it will be a long time before it will be able to cause anyone harm. Besides,” she then pulled Terra to his feet, “we need to get you to a proper healer. Make sure I did the spell right.”
Together they walked through the cavern. Ignoring any and all routes that may lead to treasures they missed the first time around. Nix still not over once more being hurt by a mimic.
