I heard the taps of a cane outside my bedroom, and the door slowly open. My head raised from my knees to see Madam Mopta walk in. She studied me, shaking her head.
"Come with me,"
I hesitated slightly. I just wanted to be alone for a while. Regardless I stood up and followed. I couldn't figure what this was about. Was she going to try and talk me into leaving? I thought she wanted me to stay.
"I want you to sit with me" she suddenly said. She had taken me outside the cabin, onto its porch. I sat beside her as she gazed into the night sky. The stars abnormally bright tonight, they seemed to almost shimmer and sparkle. Not a word was spoken between us for a while. But not much need to be said, it was felt. She was worried about me, afraid that I might lock myself away from the world. Scared that she might not know what's best for me, that maybe she never did. And I know she could sense my anxiety, my pain, my fear.
Without a single movement, without a single word. We understood each other more than we ever did before. Only then did I hug her, only then did a river of tears pour unto her shoulder and only then did she speak.
"I've never told you much about your parents, have I?"
I sniffle, wiping dried tears as I released her and shook my head.
"Truthfully, I don't know much about your father. In part because I hated him. But whether rationally or irrationally; I know your mother loved him, only second to one." She glanced at me for a moment.
"You and mother are quite similar, yet so different. Orphaned like you, I raised her from a young age. But while you were placed in my care, your mother. Well, I had found her, along with her brother. Back then, even as ancient as I was. I'd never raised a child before, let alone two. I hadn't the simplest idea of what I was doing. While I could get her brother to listen, sometimes, I could never control your mother. She was the very definition of a free spirit."
My eyes started to twinkle,
"She was inspiring,"
Slowly getting brighter,
"Beautiful,"
They almost started radiating light.
"Fearless"
A most majestic picture of my mother formed in head, shinning and dazzling so bright; it projected out of my eyes.
"And stupid."
A hammer smashed down on my projection immediately, my eyes darkened like night.
"And stubborn, unruly, rude, not to mention loud. Brazen, cocky, hmph, excessively overconfident. Big-headed, foul-mouthed-"
Madam Mopta happened to glance at me amid her ravings and stopped shocked at my countenance. A dark cloud formed over my head, raining down with storms and lightning. My face and skin were drained and pale, almost lifeless. I robotically turned my bony neck to face her, my eye sockets hallow, becoming a swirling black hole of depression.
"D-d-don't stop, f-f-finish what you w-w-were saying." I croaked and stuttered. A bead of sweat appeared on Madam Mopta's face as she quickly looked away from me.
"-But she was kind. She constantly tried to help those in need, whether they wanted her to or not. She was always forward that way. Even teaching me a lot."
Madam mopta made a side glance at me, just making sure I was back to normal. Life had breathed back into my soul, my eyes back in place, and the clouds were gone. She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"I often joked that I didn't raise her, that she raised herself. But in a way I guess it was true.... So when she died I blamed myself, I thought it was because I couldn't protect her, I wasn't there. That I was powerless and didn't have enough strength to save her. It was why I always sheltered you, I didn't want you to follow her path. Because I knew where it leads. Still, just like her, I could never entirely stop you. You were always an inquisitive one, living your adventures through Bertolt's stories. So when Richard came with the opportunity of you beginning one of your own. I almost didn't want him to ask.....So a slight part of me was happy was when you said 'no'...But every other part shattered at how it was breaking you."
She stared at me, her face softened, her eyes moist. This time she hugged me.
"Something your mother taught me. Was that strength isn't just power... That it doesn't just mean yourself, it's about the people around you too. The second you try to go it without them, you've already made yourself weaker. I wanted to be so strong when I was younger. Eventually, I became so focussed on it that I forgot the reason why. All this 'strength' and nothing to show for it, except this cabin of solitude. Till this day I have no friends of note."
Her hands grabbed my shoulders as she shook me, her face coming in close to mine.
"So protect yours. Protect them with your life, but never be afraid, to let them do the same to you. You are free. Now and till forever, you will pick your own path. You can stay, pretend none of this ever happened. Stay and train until you are ready, or you can leave tomorrow morning with Richard. Knowing him, the vacation is just an excuse to teach you himself. But regardless of your pick, it'll be your choice and yours alone. You will find no judgements from me." She let go of me, everything finally off her chest.
This day, this conversation, it was all a lot for me to swallow. Now the choice was in my hands?
"What about Richard?" I suddenly ask.
She paused momentarily, her mind jumbled.
"What about him?"
"Is he not your friend?"
"I-I, he-I suppose I never thought of him that way."
"I know he's always considered you as a friend, so you're not alone. You do have a friend."
She couldn't respond, similar to me not too long ago, her words were stuck in her throat. I stand up finally, looking at her with a curious smile.
"Well, I've made my decision....."
Meanwhile- Somewhere within the forest,
Six hob-goblins sat around a campfire defeated. They had entered this place with great ambition, and now we're leaving with only humiliation. So close to triumph, yet still a giant's step away. Urek, their leader, was now in name only. Any respect the other hob-goblins had for him, had gone with the loss of his right ear. He knew as such but said nothing. With descent already building within the group, bring it up would only speed up the progress. The crackling of the fire was the only sound shared between them as they all snacked on bits of meat.
"Tomorrow, when we leave for the Badlands, we will go our separate ways."
"So, that's it then, we run from some elf?" a hob-goblin named Grit, mockingly asked. He threw a piece of bone at Urek, who stood up and caught it.
"No. I plan on travelling back to 'Orc Country', my brother and his band there know we were robbed. That elf can't stay in this forest forever, and when he leaves-" Urek crushed the bone in hand, the bits splintering.
"We will kill him."
A hob-goblin stabbed his cleaver into the ground suddenly, slowly standing.
"And what of our shares of the treasure. What do we get back if you and your brother make off with the elf?" Grin joined the discussion. He stepped towards Urek directly, standing face to face.
"You will have yours when the treasure is found." Urek spat back, refusing to back down.
"HA, we simply take your word for it? No, your right. I mean, what are we hob-goblins if not men of our word," Grin burlesqued.
The other hob-goblins laughed. Urek kept silent, his gaze merely descending onto all of them. None relented.
"We, will follow you to your brothers," Grin stepped closer to Urek, "And we, will take our payment from him," They were mere centimetres apart.
"And if he refuses...?"
Grin smirked sinisterly, his teeth mangled and rotted. His head edged over Urek's shoulder, his mouth breathing over Urek's bloody and bandaged ear. As if to whisper to him, but his voice only growing in volume.
"Then we, will kill you."
Urek cracked, attempting to reach for his weapon. Grin, laughed tackling him, fists raining down. Urek just barely managing to defend his face. In almost unison, the rest of the hob-goblin cheered, some raising their cleavers as Urek and Grin fought.
"My, my, strong boys, just my type." A deep yet feminine voice called out. The hob-goblins fighting and cheering ground to a halt. Their attention is drawn to a bald woman walking towards them. She stood musclier then any of them, with only a thin vest and bandages for a bra. She wore black fingerless gloves, extremely baggy camouflage trousers. A dragon tattoo on her shoulder and a large X burned into her forehead.
"Step no further, just who are you?" Grin stopped and asked, some of Urek's blood dripping from his fist.
"You boys are in luck, the dark legion is recruiting," she giggly responded, continuing to walk towards them unfeathered. Grin spat at Urek before stepping over him and charging at the unknown woman. Swinging strong and true, with his right arm. The woman caught it by the wrist, completely stopping its momentum. Her grip was titanic, Grin could barely move from it.
"That isn't any way to greet a lady,"
She simply clenched slightly, crushing his wrist. Grin fell to the ground, writhing in pain. The other hob-goblins took up arms. Grit leading the assault. The woman chuckled, yet not reaching for the four-headed axes strapped to her sides. Flames birthed from her hands, covering them entirely. As the hob-goblins neared her, she punched the ground, and a small wall of fire erupted down the middle of them. They froze immediately. While the attack had just missed them, it was clear that it was by choice.
"Now, now, Camila, you can't hurt our new recruits."
Above the campfire, a soft-spoken blonde man hovered atop a glowing black orb.
"I was just scaring them a little,"
"I'm sure. Now then gentlemen. Who, may I ask is your leader?" his voice warm and inviting.
The hob-goblins instinctively turned to Urek. He was still on the ground but sat up wright, cleaning blood from his lip. The blonde man looked to him, their eyes locking as he descended from the air and touched soil.
"My name is Captain Marxist. We couldn't help but overhear your conversation. I have reason to believe our goals may be aligned."
He reached a hand out, the other behind his back. Urek stared at it then looked to Marxist's face. The man smiled, his eyes were honest, his appearance harmless. As Urek took his hand, a black wind blew out the fires around them. Basking them all in darkness.
There was silence.....then the agonising screams of hob-goblins encompassed everything.
-The next morning,
A man flew through the forest trees, oddly on a floating carpet. Its speed was tremendous, only stopping when it reached a small cabin. As one could guess, that man was Richard. He landed at its door, and an old woman walked out to greet him.
"Your Affairs in order?" Madam Mopta asked. Richard laughed awkwardly before nodding. From behind her, two bodies levitated out and hovered over Richard's carpet before dropping. With the elf and Bertolt on his mat, it seemed Richard had everything he needed. But for some reason, he hesitated, not wanting to leave.
"Oh, you expecting something else?" Madam Mopta questioned.
He sighed, "no," shaking his head.
Lighting sparked in his palm. He was about to jolt his carpet up, just as Madam Mopta threw something at him. He caught the piece of paper.
"Give this to her, would you. I was never one for farewells." her voice trailed behind, her figure disappeared.
"I'll see you.....old friend."
Richard gave a solemn smile.
"I'll see you too, old friend."
-Aurora
My bags were packed, I hadn't much in the way of things except clothes. And Sabre hadn't anything at all, the cub sleeping carefree. Madam Mopta said Richard would arrive at any point now. So I sat waiting in my room till I heard a knock at the door. I grabbed my two bags and rushed to open it. Sabre running in tow.
A forever goofy looking old man waved at me.
"Richard," I said, hugging him.
"I heard you had a change in heart."
"Yeah, Madam Mopta gave me some advice" I explain releasing him. "I'll go get her."
"There's no need for that,"
"What you do mean?"
"I've spoken to her already." Richard gave me a piece of paper.
I unfolded it to see Madam Mopta's handwriting.
'Aurora,
In the end, I couldn't face you leaving. I was never good at farewells. Your mother left you something I've kept hidden for some many years. A sword. At this moment I've gone to get it. The next time we met, I know you would have already grown up so much. And by then I have a feeling you will be ready to face the even larger world beyond this tiny forest. Know that I love you, Aurora. And tell that greasy old fella that if a single hair on your head is harmed, I'll skin him alive.' My heart-melted, I laughed and cried gazing up at Richard.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Nothing"
"Well, come along."
"What about Bertolt and the elf?"
"I've already put them in the outhouse."
I looked at him strangely. He hadn't brought any horses or anything to take us. We're we going to walk to the elf kingdom? Only then did I notice the large carpet beneath him and the small outhouse in the corner.
"Do step on, we're already late,"
I dropped my things on top of the carpet, then walked on myself.
"How late are we?"
"Ha...ha.., about 24 hours, give or take."
"What?!"
"I advise you take a seat" he fired a bolt into the mat, and it suddenly started hovering.
I fell back off balance, Sabre jumped atop, not even slightly fazed by the fact that the carpet was freaking flying. He even meowed excitedly. We shot off, the rushing air blowing against his fur. Was this really it? The start of an Adventure?