I stick close to the shadows as I traverse the rocky plains of the labyrinth. Weaving my way through the darkness, I spot my first target.
The place was well-lit and moody, the atmosphere heavier than stone. Settling a couple of meters from the lone tent, I focus on the noise inside the crudely made building.
Yup, nothing, I sigh in the empty darkness. I wasn't really expecting much, but I was still disappointed.
I can't understand a thing.
The goblins spoke in a foreign language–if that even was one. Every word and syllable sounded nothing more than grunts to me, devoid of both meaning and organization. It made me wonder.
Were all languages like this?
I didn't know what it was like to have a language barrier. Excluding the posh way people in power–both financially and politically–talked and acted, I had no prior experience in such matters. Though I have read about a 'wall' that symbolizes the distance between people.
Looking around the tent, I notice a couple of armed soldiers I hadn't noticed before. There was a dozen of them. Each one wearing a suit of silver-plated armor. The armor–unlike everything else–wasn't weathered, dirty, or broken. Rather, they looked brand new, each one clear enough that you can see your reflection in them.
As the group of armored soldiers minded about their day, one of the female goblins walked up to them. The female was clean and proper, not a single blemish on her hand-stitched dress. One of the male goblins walked approached her, his chest puffed out and his chin raised so high, he might as well have been looking up. He grunted.
The female responded with a startled yelp, aggressively waving her hands in front of her. There was a clamor from the crowd surrounding them, and the male goblin stormed out, stomping his feet. The female, on the other hand, was looked like it was the end of the world. Her eyes were downcast and muddy, devoid of her previous joy and excitement. Then another goblin walked forward.
Her mood flipped. The previously nightmare-filled eyes were now full of glee and visible happiness. The two goblins talked for a while. Though I couldn't understand what they were saying, I could tell that they enjoyed each other's company.
To each their own, I guess.
Everybody had something that made them happy, no matter who it might be.
…Well I guess not everyone, I thought with a bit of contempt. Leveling up and obtaining skills made me pleased, sure, but I wouldn't really call that happiness.
Ugh, stop getting distracted!, I slap myself hard on the cheeks, the sound piercing the atmosphere.
「Skill 'Instinct is warning you'」
The surrounding goblins all flinched, some of them even drawing whatever weapon was close to them. I quickly hid myself, staying as low and quiet as possible. Eventually one of the armored guys came to check the source of the sound–namely the stalagmite I was hiding behind.
I quickly doubled back, sticking as close to the shadows as possible.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
A chill ran up my spine, forcing me to look at my right. The female goblin was there. She was pointing a wooden staff at me, murmuring to herself. A moment later, the ground below me started shifting. An earthen wall appeared around me, trapping me.
Magic
Without any other choice, I leapt up, easily getting out of my earthen prison.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
As I got out of the cage, rock pellets shot towards me. I quickly raised my arms in defense, the projectile lodging into my skin. There was a shout, and I struggled to look away from the hail earth bombarding me.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
As soon as I landed, the earth tried to catch me in it's grasp. I quickly dodged, the animated earth missing me by a inch. Looking back at the female goblin, I noticed that she was barely conscious. She was covered in sweat, her eyes barely open. It seems casting that many spells in quick-succession was both physically and mentally tiring. A fact I'll have to remember.
「Skill 'Instinct' is warning you」
With a loud boom, a sword came to cut my neck. Instinctively taking a step back, I let the blade whizz past me. Looking at my assailant, I noticed it was the male goblin–the one who stormed off earlier. My mind working like clockwork, I reassessed the situation.
The loud noise I heard earlier most likely came from the goblin in front of me, rushing as soon as he heard the rumbling of the earth spell. Striking his chest with the palm if my hand, I create some distance. Looking behind my current opponent, I spot the marching dozen-or-so soldiers rushing in between the female goblin and me. Behind them, another dozen was busy evacuating non-combatants, shouting and guiding them further away from us. Further back the cavern, I could see reinforcements making their way here, as if the current situation wasn't bad enough.
Focusing my attention on the opponent in front of me, I take a stance. While the spells that female mage used intrigued me, I would have to put that on hold. I glare at the beast, unleashing my bloodlust. The armored beast didn't move, any expression hidden behind his helmet. With a leap, I approach the beast, instantly closing the distance between us.
You're first.