As we make our way to the city's gate we stop by a get some food and chat a bit longer before heading out. We still got time until noon from the looks of the sun.
"So...how hard do you think" *chews* "the mission will be?" I ask chewing my salmon dish"
"I believe it will be our most difficult yet if we are not careful *chews* since these are dangerous creatures"
Agreed. I have seen Goblin slayer enough to know these things can easily kill people in brutal ways and shouldn't be taken lightly.
"Right, we should *chews* should be careful otherwise one of us or all of us for all we know could be put in a critical condition."
-few minutes later-
We finished our meal and likely is noon by this point so we head out to the gates in the East. As we arrive we meet the group and Jared and the other girl is there. I need to ask for her name.
We shake hands and start out planning.
"So what's the plan" asked Jared placing his hands on his hips.
"Well we are to locate and terminate some goblins near a farm right? Means we should head there and search for clues on there whereabouts." said the girl.
"Right that's our plan for now. Also what's your name might I ask?" I ask her.
"My name? Uhm...Elsa. Elsa Goldings."
"Nice to meet you Elsa!" I give a smile.
"Nice to meet you to Uhm...what's your name as well?"
"Oh my bad, my name is Coda and her name is Arla. She is my maid if you will but dont worry I can hold my own weight."
"Well that's good. We didnt team up for one of us to lazy about haha! said Jared.
We all laugh except for Arla which doesn't surprise me.
We all take a long walk over Northeast of the city and start our journey on a carriage ride out into the wild side.
-12 minutes later-
It is already getting boring and I don't know how long this trip will be. Might as well do some small talk.
"So how did you two meet?" I ask
"Well we met at a cafe and frankly he and I got off on the wrong foot. He was serving me some coffee and spilt it on me. It was crazy hot on me and I got really mad at him."
"Yeah, still won't leave that alone won't you Elsa haha!" Jared says with a chuckle
"So as a way to make it up to me he would go on on a single contract with me and well..."
"We have been doing contracts as a team ever since. For about 3 months. I'd say we have gotten close as good partners in crime if you get what I mean."
"I guess I do." I say crossing my arms wondering how far their relationship is.
"So what about you two?" asked Elsa who places her hand up to her chin.
"Well...I not that long ago came out of a coma for a few years and had been given a maid to help with my recovery. She wasn't needed personally but I allowed her to do some stuff around the house as a normal maid. I then found out she was a former Adventurers Guild member. She introduced me to the guild and so far for the past few days we have been doing fine doing small contracts. I just bought this armor for this specific mission because of how dangerous it could be."
"Well that's good, you came prepared then," Jared says while padding me on the shoulder
"Yeah this could be dangerous after all," says Elsa
"Well let's make sure we all come back in one piece!" I say cheerfully.
-20 minutes later-
"we've arrived at the farm, so please get out so I can leave this place. Heard that there are goblin sightings around these parts..."
"Don't worry we will be getting off now. Thank you here is your payment" says Jared.
"So let's check around and call out if some happen. Me and Elsa will go over to the barn, you guys check the fields for clues," says Jared pointing in the directions.
"Right we will see you later" I wave to them
"Gotta stay close Arla I don't like goblins"
"Right, I wouldn't mind being close to you"
"I bet you would, I bet you would..."
We spent the next few minutes searching around the fields for clues on the whereabouts or direction they might've fled. We spotted footprints however we can't make them out if they are an animal or the food of something human-like a goblin.
"Hey, Arla check this out..." I call her pointing over to a shrub
"Check out those bushes... They are bents and snapped down. Like something went through them by force and broke them. I bet that is where they fled. Otherwise, it could be an animal but it is a lead."
"Right let us tell the others"
We walk over to the farther end of the farm and to the barn where they said they would be. As we walk to the barn they aren't there but inside from the sounds of noise. We push the door open and there they are looking through some of the form supplies likely looking for clues that way.
"Hey we think we found a lead in the woods. Looks like they might've fled in that direction."
"Nice! We will head there because we are on a stump in here..." says Elsa growing through some bags of flour from the looks of it.
"Lets go then" Jared proposes with a fist in the air.
We make our way outside of the barn and make our way over to the shrubs that were bent. As we go through the woods we notice more shurbs and bushes being bents and trampled over like an animal or something bigger went through them. But in numbers. A group of th these creatures went through here.
"Hey I think we are on the right trail" Says Jared following right behind me
"I think so to, let's keep following," I say while leading the way in a line behind me.
-hours later-
We have been following the trail and the bushes and shrubs are getting thicker to the point we are using our weapons to swipe away the branches.
As we make our way we notice a cave opening starting to appear in the distance and start to take shape. I think we have found a hideout. As we get closer we spread out but notice that the thickness of the trees kept the sunlight away so we didn't notice it has gotten darker.
The sun is going down now so it must be the evening now. Let hope we can do this before nightfall. Gonna be more difficult to fight them in darkness. I think. I do have natural night vision but the others don't I believe.
I think we should check it and get out fast. We should ask the farmers if we can sleep in their place or in the barn for the duration of the night if it comes to it.
"I take it we should enter the cave?" asked Jared
"Yep..."
"Let's do this," says Elsa clutching a spear
I pull out my sword and Arla pulls out her Rapier. We slowly make our way in and trigger some light magic by the help of Arla. glad she has that spell with her otherwise it would be totally dark.
As we make out the way we see bones of small animals like rats, raccoons, and fox skulls all over the ground. The animals seem to start getting bigger in the cave the farther we go.
*snap*
We all stop for a brief moment because the sound of the snap sounded from a distance in front of us. But we can't see them with the light magic currently.
We keep moving on and the closer we go the louder some odd noises become. We come to a fork in the road with 2 cave systems opening up.
"Shit..." I say under my breath.
"Welp we should split up-"
"No!" I interrupt him abruptly.
"Everyone looks at me with a confused look on there face including Arla who seems shocked by my sudden reaction.
"I mean, strength in number right?" I turn back around facing the fork in the road trying to figure out which one we should take.
*Sigh* "I don't know how long you are gonna stand there man...We should just split up and cover more ground." says Jared
"No we need to stay together and support each other in case something happens," I say
"Well I think we should split man instead of waiting at this fork in the road for you to make up your mind..."
"I will pick I just-"
"No! we are moving now out of my way man" jared says pushing me out of the way
I look behind me and Elsa is following in pursuit of her friend. They go to the left cave while we head over to the right cave. I guess we are splitting up now.
We start walking slowly in the right cave and start hearing some gargling noises and odd noises. As I turn a corner and stop and return back around the corner and hide. There are goblins at a fire eating what looks to be a cow they must've stolen from he farm and killed it. This is out chance.
Arla runs out before I can say anything and stabs one of the goblins through the heart from the back and kicks another one out of the way.
I run out as well with my one handed sword and chop off the head of one of the goblins and stab another one through the chest. That seems to be all of them for-
Suddenly a net is dropped on me and twirls around me encasing mee in a cocooning me up and restraining me down. I can't move now! Agh!
"Shit Arla watch out!"
She looks behind her and notice me in a net and runs over to me only to be stopped by several goblins blocking me. They are about 3'5-4'5 in height.
She surrounded...No!