"Sister, how was the game?"
"Game? Oh right, it was a game."
"What's wrong? Did something happen."
"Nope. I just thought how realistic the people are."
The day's game time has ended and Alni returned to the real world, sitting in the living room. Her head is still spinning around her conversation with Aruk. She remembered the young face of her teacher, for the first time she felt the age behind him and the history behind the city. She saw how the empty inner city slowly revitalises as more and more goblins roams it's streets.
They were all Hobgoblins, likely over 700 years old.
A spell maintained for 700 years. A Sage that cannot use magic for 700 years.
She was shaken by the conviction in her teachers eyes.
She who has achieved anything she wanted with her talent and immense effort, had nothing she particularly wanted in her life. But for the first time she can remember, she felt jealous. Jealous of that city, the solidarity of the people, and the purpose that lasted over 700 years. She wishes to be a part of it.
"Ahhhh, it's so vexing."
"Sister, you're acting weird."
"I just got kicked out from school."
"Huh?"
The younger sister could not get her head around her sister's act today.
"I am leaving the goblin city soon, is everyone strong enough to journey now?"
"Yup, since sister is at the very edge of the north-east side of the continent we are all moving in that direction. The Fel's are getting more active, things might be happening so we should meet up soon."
"We'll do that. I wonder how the other players are doing."
Alni thought about her treatment in the game as she compared it to the experiences described on the forum.
"There is no comparing, sister met a veritable monster and learnt from him. Strength aside, you should be the most knowledgeable about magic."
She is right, there is no comparing. Right now players can only cast spells through the magic skills they have. They are unable to free cast like Alni, who can weave spells based on the scenario.
'Why play game just to go to school…' The younger sister sighed in amazement.
But her words brought Alni's thoughts back to her teacher.
"There will be a large chain of events happening in the future…"
"What was that?"
"…Let's get stronger quick. I think the first large event will be coming soon."
The younger sister felt her sister is really weird today, but agreed nonetheless.
[Condition Realised]
[Acquired Title: 'Disciple Of The Sage']
[Title: Disciple Of The Sage
Description: Proof that you have been acknowledged, and taught wholeheartedly by the [Goblin Sage]. You are the Disciple of one of the only three Sages on the continent.
This title allows you to catch a glimpse of the path of magic your Teacher took and you will find it easier to follow his footsteps.]
From the next day onwards, the four students of the goblin academy left one by one.
Rou was the first to leave and we parted at the south gates. I gave him a magic bag filled with potions I made and a few magic items as a parting gift. It is also a more practical storage option compared to the subspace unique to wanderers, as it can only be used when standing still, making it hard to use in combat.
Being the closest to him and have treated him as a peer, Ronia was there to send him off. She made sure to arm him with proper armour and a new sword. Other than that, they did not speak much. Rou only promised to come back to challenge her before swiftly leaving.
The next to leave were Goruk and Rina. They left together because Goruk can't feel relieved at the kid moving by herself, so he decided to take her in as the first member of his party. They caused quite a ruckus when leaving. Rina and Lir were stuck together like glue and both cried a flood. Goruk and Geahnol had to forcefully pull them apart so they can finally leave.
I gave them each a magic bag too as a parting gift to their travel.
The last, and most stubborn of them is Alni. She had been pestering me about how to use Blessings and becoming a Priest. She was trying to delay her departure as much as she can with the excuse that her sister and friends are coming to pick her up. In the end I stuffed a load of books from the library into a her parting gift, adding up to three magic bags. I felt truly ripped off when she left the city so happily to meet up with her friends.
"…It gotten really lonely huh."
"It sure did…"
"…"
The four goblin lords has gathered around in my house which they visited a lot recently. Missing it's four only students, it can no longer be called an academy. It has returned to just being my home.
I look over the terrace, seeing the courtyard where I have flattened all overgrowth. The wet mud, scorch marks, sharp grooves and deformed earth can still be seen everywhere. All the tools I bought for craft training was barely used, not like Lir did not accidentally blow away those rooms when I was away.
"What will we do now?"
"What else? On with the plan."
"Couldn't we have kept them for longer? It's not like we can move on immediately."
"Who says."
I feel their eyes concentrating on me and sharpening at my words.
"I've already got a way to move into the continent."