[ToM] Side Chapter 2 – Goblins (Patreon)

[General's Echo – Rank F: You defied fate once, and fate has not forgotten. The past clings to you, buried beneath the weight of time, waiting to awaken.]

No matter how many times I read it, it never seems to make sense. Defied fate? Past waiting to awaken? I've never heard of such an obscure skill. They're always so crystal clear in what they do.

Alistair stared at the System message while mechanically putting the food in his mouth. The inn's cafeteria was quiet as now was the odd time when it was too late to eat lunch but too early to eat dinner. But he didn't have much of a choice; he could either eat now or wait until the patrol would end late at night.

Admittedly, they did have a short dinner break, however, the food was prepared by the guild and, unfortunately, the guild's cook was not known for his skill. Most adventurers chose to eat either before their patrol or grab some easy-to-eat snack. 

System, show me the effect at Rank F.

[None.]

And then there's this. How can there be no effect? Every skill has an effect even in their lowest ranks. It might be barely noticeable, but there should be an effect. Yet this skill has none. It appeared out of nowhere and did nothing. Why?

Alistair's fork stabbed into an empty plate, and he realized that he had already eaten everything. What exactly he had eaten, he still had no clue, but he couldn't really force himself to care about that. Instead, he took the dirty plates and brought them over to one of the kitchen staff.

This was yet another quirk of Sunglow that Alistair just could not understand. Every dining establishment he had previously visited always had waiters that brought the menu, brought the food and later took the dishes away. But here you had to do everything yourself. All the dishes were put in metallic containers that were kept warm from the residual heat of used coals. 

He had been very apprehensive about taking and eating food that basically any person who came into the inn could access and touch with their grubby hands if they wished to do so. But after Alistair had the pleasure of tasting the Guild's cook's meals, he decided that he was less likely to get food poisoning here. There was always a kitchen staff member present, so they would surely stop anyone from mishandling food. 

What the Guild's cook did to food—it was surely a crime against the culinary arts. But the Guildmaster apparently liked his food, so the poor adventurers, Alistair included, didn't have much choice in the matter. Normally, a single complaint from a nobility like himself would get them inept cook exiled from the country.

Yet I am unable to do anything because I refused to obey the Church's order. Why is their word regarded so highly that even a Duke's son like myself can get punished and sent to some backwater town?

Alistair checked the magitech clock on his wrist and saw that he still had some time before his patrol.

Perhaps, I should speak to the Guildmaster about this unusual skill I got. I know she's not a System user, but from what I've heard she was born in Sunglow. She would know if there's another, more experienced System user here. Perhaps, they could help untangle the mystery of this unusual skill.

With his mind made up, Alistair left the inn, ignoring the enthusiastic chattering going on in the lobby. He was still pondering the description of the skill when he suddenly felt something colliding with his chest and heard a feminine yelp. Turns out he had run straight into a red-haired young woman, knocking her to the ground.

"Excuse me, Miss, I did not notice you," he said and reached out his hand to help her get up. For a short moment, a scowl appeared on her face, but as soon as their eyes met, it disappeared. As if it had been nothing more than a mirage. A rosy blush appeared on her cheeks instead.

"Oh, it's no big deal. I wasn't looking where I was going," she said in a sweet voice and took his hand. He pulled her up on her feet, however instead of releasing his hand, the woman held it firmly and looked at him with a somewhat starry, bashful gaze.

"Are you perhaps, Lord Sinclair? I have heard that you would take residence in Sunglow," she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.

Oh, great, just what I need. Village girls throwing themselves at me, hoping to get some of the Sinclair fortune. I should have known that this was coming, but I had hoped for a longer-lasting peace.

"Yes, I am Alistair Sinclair," he replied, gently unhooking her surprisingly firm hold on him.

"It is my utmost pleasure to meet you, Lord Sinclair. My name is Leliana Bauer," the woman curtsied in a manner that clearly showed that it was self-taught, as it lacked the elegance and precision noblewomen usually had. But Alistair didn't comment on it. "If you'd like it, I could show you around Sunglow, to help you get settled."

"I currently have an arrangement with the Guildmaster, so unfortunately I cannot. Until another time, Miss Leliana," he said and made his escape before she could come up with a new way to pester him.

This one is quite aggressive in her approach. I'll have to be careful if I don't want to get roped into long walks around this dingy town. As if there's anything to see here. I'm surprised it hasn't been overrun by monsters.

As he made his way to the Adventurer's Guild this conviction only grew stronger. The town center was still somewhat tolerable, mostly due to the inn and a few somewhat reputable shops. But the further one got from it, the older the houses seemed to get with some houses closest to the stone wall being completely abandoned or even half-destroyed.

There was a group of adventurers standing by the entrance, chattering and laughing happily. However, as soon as they noticed Alistair's approach, the whole group stiffened and slowly moved further away from the entrance. They tried to make it seem like they weren't bothered by him, but it was clear to him that his presence made these people uncomfortable.

They're just commoners—there is no need to worry about them. I'll leave this place in a year, perhaps, even sooner if I'm able to prove myself to the Church and my father. What these people think is of no consequence to me.

Alistair made his way inside the Guild, heading upstairs to where Guildmaster's office was located. The man by the door tensed and said, "Lord Sinclair, what brings you here?"

"I'd like to talk to the Guildmaster," Alistair said politely.

The man shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, but the Guildmaster doesn't want to be bothered right now."

"It'll take no more than five minutes. Tell her I have arrived."

The man seemed to be having some internal struggle, glancing at the door, then back at Alistair until he finally caved and knocked on the door. "Guildmaster, Lord Sinclair would like to see you."

"I'm busy," a rough female voice answered. Alistair waved the man to move aside and then entered the office.

"It'll take a mere moment," he said and promptly closed the door behind him, leaving the panicking man outside. At first, Guildmaster Arianne didn't even so much as spare him a glance, scribbling something on a sheet of paper. As always, her eyebrows were furrowed in a scowl which made Alistair wonder whether this woman was even capable of smiling.

"I'd like to ask a question," he said once he realized that she would not speak.

"For a nobleman, you sure are lacking manners," she snapped, putting the pen down on the table with such force that Alistair thought that it would break. He flinched back at her words, realizing that perhaps he in fact had been a bit too hasty in his approach. She was the Guildmaster after all, and he had intruded into her personal office.

"I apologize, but this is a matter that has been bothering me to the point that I am unable to sleep properly. I ask for your understanding," he bowed his head slightly. 

"Two extra patrol hours today and I'll forget this happened. But do not dare to enter my office uninvited again," she glared at him and then resumed writing.

Two more hours? That means I'll be patrolling until midnight. 

Alistair clenched his fist but managed to keep his expression calm. "I understand."

"So what is it that you wanted to ask me with such urgency?" 

"Are there any experienced System users in Sunglow?" 

Her pen paused for a moment as she seemed to contemplate her next words. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm having an issue understanding a skill and I was hoping to consult with someone who might know more," he explained.

"This was your big issue? System users," she rolled her eyes, her hand continuing to write. "There are no System users in Sunglow besides you. If you want to talk to one, you'd have to go to Pertia."

"Is there perhaps—"

"You said this will be quick. Begone now. Your patrol begins soon," she motioned for him to leave as if she was shooing away a stray cat begging for food. Alistair didn't manage to hide his annoyance this time, but it was likely she didn't see anyway—so entranced she was in her papers.

"Very well. Thank you for your time," he said and left the office.

That woman always manages to put me in a bad mood. I shouldn't have asked her. More importantly, how could I get to Pertia? Unless an assignment appears that would require me to go there, I'm pretty much stuck here. This is utterly ridiculous!

***

Three hours into his patrol, Alistair was beginning to wonder whether Sunglow was somehow cursed. He had already encountered two groups of goblins and a baby earth boar—all admittedly low threats. However, with how many low-level monsters there were in the area, it would be easy for one of them to grow stronger and evolve. Like that rock troll.

Now I understand why Sunglow sends both the town watch and the adventurers on patrols. If the monster population is not carefully monitored, then much stronger beasts would appear and destroy the town. 

Leaves crinkled under his boots as Alistair walked around the outside of the wall. He could hear distant chatter and bustling of people within the town, as well as the footsteps of town watch on the wall. The owners of the vigilant footsteps, Alistair, and other adventurers on patrols were the only thing protecting the people within.

In Sunglow, everyone took this guard duty seriously, which Alistair deduced on the first day of his arrival. Even the soldiers of the Sinclair household seemed somewhat aloof when compared to these men. Mistakes were not allowed and those who did commit them were severely punished.

Perhaps, I could learn more about the discipline from these people and then implement it in our house. Not that soldiers of House Sinclair are badly trained, but compared to the seriousness of everyone in Sunglow, they certainly could use some stricter lessons.

Alistair stopped as his <Danger Sense> skill rang alarm bells in his mind. He looked into the forest, sunlight filtering through the thick canopy above. There was a rustling noise somewhere deeper inside.

"Something's approaching," he warned the guards on the wall who readied their bows. Alistair unhooked the shield from his back and unsheathed his sword, looking for any movement deeper within.

Let's hope it's not another rock troll. I'd hate to lose my spare sword and shield too. Requesting a new one from the capital could take several weeks.

The rustling intensified, and he noted that it seemed to come from several directions. He shook his head, realizing that his enemies this time were none other than goblins. The attack pattern of their dead comrades had been the exact same—slowly trying to sneak up on the town and take down the guards. Perhaps, if there were nobody on patrol, the guards on the walls might have not heard their approach or mistaken it for a wild animal.

But Alistair's <Danger Sense> told him everything he needed to know. He rushed into the forest, holding his shield in front of him in case some of the goblins would start throwing rocks at him. But he had not expected a spear made of ice to fly in his direction. 

An ice spear? Could it be an elemental?

He blocked the attack and looked for its source among the trees. The group of goblins had emerged from their hiding places beyond the bushes and charged at Alistair, yelling viciously while they flourished their crude clubs and spears. But there was no sight of an elemental.

As one of the goblins got close to him, he bashed it with his shield, instantly knocking out the monster. Another icy spear flew in his direction, and he blocked it. This time Alistair saw exactly where it had come from—one of the smallest goblins who sat in the very back. It didn't look much different from the rest except that its skin had a more bluish hue than the sickly green its brethren had.

A goblin that can use magic? Unbelievable. Is this one an evolved monster too?

"Lord Sinclair, step back," one of the five archers called, having made their way down the wall. Alistair quickly retreated and watched how the archers made quick work of the goblin group. Except for the little, blue goblin who conjured an ice shield in front of itself that protected it from arrows.

"It can use magic?" The archer stared in disbelief.

"Leave that one to me," Alistair said and gave the little goblin chase as it already tried to run away, seeing as all of its allies had been slain. Unfortunately for the goblin, Alistair was much faster, and in several minutes he had already caught up to it.

"Rek, riki, rek!" The goblin snarled at him and conjured a sphere of ice in a last desperate attempt to escape. Alistair held out his shield, ready to take the attack. The giant ice ball collided with his shield and shattered.

[Skill <Rebounding Guard>  activated. Some of the damage has been reflected back onto the attacker.]

Shards of ice scattered in every direction, and lots made their way back to the little goblin. It stood no chance of surviving the onslaught it itself had created, ice shards peppering its tiny body and killing it instantly.

"Are you alright?" The archers asked after catching up to him. They looked horrified as they took in the scene—ice shards covering all of the nearby trees and ground, sticking out from the lifeless body of the blue goblin.

"Yes, I'm alright. The attack wasn't that strong. I just wasn't expecting it from a goblin. Is it common for them to use magic around these parts?" He asked the archers. They all shook their heads as one.

"This is the first time we see a goblin use magic. I suspect it must be an evolved monster just like the rock troll we fought before. We'll bring it into the Guild for closer examination." 

"Yes, please do that," he said, then looked into the now quiet forest. Two evolved monsters appeared near the town in less than a week. Usually, they were rare in the Human Realm, appearing mostly in remote locations—far away from human settlements.

This was not a good sign.

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