We walked through the village in search for an adult, but we couldn't come across anyone, we even split up to seek one out, but we were misfortunate enough to make no progress.
Something felt off, what was happening? Did the BlackWing return to capture more kids, and cause some sort of battle? I hope not.
I felt nervous walking through the village on my own, definitely since we split up, but I knew it was the best option for finding someone.
And then, I heard a noise.
I stood in the middle of the road in Mediocre village, noticing someone whimpering in the corner of some alleyway.
It relieved me at first to know someone was here, but I still approached with caution to see what was going on.
Taking small steps, I tip-toed closer to the alleyway, peeking me head from the corner, and stared face to face with—
WHAT THE HELL?
["Niiihaaaaa!!!"]
A small green creature lunged at me and bit my head, holding a dagger inside its hands as it attempted to stab my neck.
I struggled to get it off, bumping into doors, market-stands, and barrels scattered across the village streets in my struggling.
This creature, it had to be a goblin! What else could it be? It looks like one from those fantasy books I use to read in my other world.
Is that why the village is so silent, were we raided by goblins?
["Damnit, get off me!"]
I finally managed to push the goblin on the ground, holding out my hand to conjure flames from my palm.
["HAAAAA!"] I yelled as a wave of flames shot from my hand, engulfing the goblin whole.
It screamed in agony as it's body started to vaporize into ash.
But that wasn't the end—
I heard chittering, and other foreign sounds surrounding me.
From left, right, back, front.
I was fully surrounded!
Was I purposely lured into an ambush?
["So that's it, we were raided by goblins! This isn't a coincidence... it's definitely done by the BlackWing!"] It had to be cause of them.
They must've been behind the dragon situation in Underearth as well.
Those bastards, they're cruel in their actions.
Attacking everyone after kidnapping children, how cowardly!
["Nugoooo!!"] One of the goblins behind me pulled the string of their bow, firing an arrow at my back, however I managed to dodge with relative ease, crouching down to pick up a twig on the ground, and pointing it at the creature.
["Haaa!"] I launched an icicle from the tip of the twig, piercing the goblin through its belly.
If you didn't know, using magic with straight items like sticks, canes, and other long and pointy objects, increases your accuracy with magical spells.
It's mainly why you see mages perform magic with wands, and other similar objects.
The goblins noticed my accuracy, and skill from my attack, putting them on high alert.
They all separated from one another and ran throughout the village, hiding in the shadows while some stayed out in the open to fight.
["Where did the others go? I can't see them anywhere!"] Shit, this was bad.
The only way I can win this is with that dark magic, but I know the risk of using it.
["Aghhh!"] I suddenly yelled in pain, falling to one knee as an arrow struck my calf. ["It hurts... nghh..."] The amount of pain caused me to whimper, I knew I couldn't pull it out if I didn't wanna bleed to death. ["Twirl, Olivia, where are you?!?"] I yelled for them, but I got no response.
Another arrow came out of nowhere and struck my hip.
I yelled in pain, falling to my side as they all approached me with their handcrafted weapons.
["Get off! Get off me you shitheads!"] Adrenaline was pumping through my body as they all toppled me.
They smashed me with clubs, some stabbing at my hip with daggers, some at my legs while others stabbed my arms.
I couldn't break free, I was gonna die—
["No!! Nooo!! Get off me!!!"] I couldn't die here.
Not like this... not by goblins!
Was I really gonna be killed by fucking goblins?
I can't use attacks that'll damage the village I grew up in, and made memories with.
I have no choice...
I have to use it...
("So, you finally called me back, Godfrey?")
Everything froze.
Time paused for the goblins, and my consciousness vanished deep into a black void of nothingness again.
I was standing in the middle of a dark, and empty nothingness.
But this time, light didn't shine from the top. No. I was standing in front of the entity that I spoke to last time.
["Who are you? You haven't told me your name from before."] I was straight to the point, not wasting any time.
["Fufufu~! Is that the first thing you say to me when we haven't seen each other in a day? I missed you."]
["Enough joking around! Who are you? Last time we met, you said you were the bringer of nothingness."]
I held out my hand, casting a magical rune in front of me.
["Last time I couldn't touch you, but I'm sure it's possible now."] I slightly grinned.
["Oh my, the confidence you have truly makes you an Ironheart."] I could only see the entities blue eyes moving through the void of darkness, as it circled behind me. ["Of course you can touch me now, that's how you Ironhearts work; Whatever situation you couldn't accomplish, your body evolves to accomplish it. You don't know enough about your family, but when you do, you'll see the true potential you have, and grow into a fine young man that I will devour~!"]
I turned around, launching a wave of flames at the entity, but it was swallowed into the nothingness.
["Fuhahahaha! You may be able to interact with me now, but harming me is beyond your capabilities, child!"]
It was mocking me?
["I'll have to resort to physical actions if you aren't gonna give me any info about you! If you're so connected to my body, it's only logical that I wanna know who you're!"] I swung my arms to the side, balling my hand to a fist. This was a waste of time, are they just gonna mock me all day?
["Fumu. I suppose you're right, I was waiting for you to get older before I tell you, but since you're so eager, I have no choice."] It's glowing eyes circled in front of me again, leaving trails of blue in its movements. ["I am the spirit of darkness, known as Erebus; I am the creator of darkness, evil, and all that is associated with the ideal of evil itself. I've chosen you to be the one who wields my Dark Spirit Magic, also known as Dark Arcane, the most potent magic in the multiverse."]
["..."] I was quiet, hearing everything she had to say. Her words sounded unbelievable at first, but why would she be lying? They had to be true, it was just hard to fully grasp.
["I've been waiting centuries for a powerful mortal to be born with enough potential to wield my magic, and the family known as the Ironheart's were the ones who could create that perfect mortal."] Erebus circled me once more, but this time placing their hands on my shoulders. ["That child is you, Godfrey. You're my most prized possession in this world, you have something that many would kill for, so use it! Use it to take down your enemies, and rule the world if you so please."]
Rule the world?
Was she wanting me to be some tyrant?
["I will use your magic, Erebus, only if you answer my question."]
["What is it?"]
["You said it'll bring about your resurrection. You died for a reason, so why should I risk everything here and now, and not just kill myself off so you'll never get the chance to resurrect?"]
The spirit froze in shock, unable to muster words.
["K-Kill yourself off? But you're a child, a child wouldn't speak like that! No, I won't let you do such a foolish action, you're too young to have this mindset!"]
["Since when did age have anything to do with wits?"] I smugly responded. ["If I just die, there will be no other person in the world like me with enough potential to wield your magic. You said it yourself; 'the Ironheart's are the only ones who could create a powerful mortal' like myself, and far as I know, I'm the last Ironheart walking this earth."]
I glanced at the spirit and wiped my smug expression away.
["At any given time, I can take my life, and there's nothing you can do about it."]
Erebus seemed angry from the appearance of her eyes.
["Currently your body is frozen in time by my power, I can easily stop death from taking your soul!"] Erebus proclaimed.
["Alright then, let's see if that's true. I'll wait here as long as it takes, to see if there's no time limit."]
["You insolent child, you wouldn't dare! What the hell is wrong with you Ironhearts? Always showing no lack of care in your actions!"]
["Sorry Erebus, I'm not some normal kid, you must thought it would be easy trying to scare, and manipulate me, but that backfired on you, didn't it?"]
The spirit was quiet, not saying a word.
["I am in control here, not you, that's the reality of things, isn't it? You must rely on me to cooperate and consent, and if I don't, you gain nothing from it."] I proclaimed.
["ME... OUTSMARTED BY A MERE CHILD? HOW... HOW CAN THIS BE?!?"]