It had been five days since Alaric had been placed under medical rest. The days passed slowly, each one blending into the next as he healed. He had learned from Lydia that her husband, Baso, a village guard, had found him unconscious near a tree just outside their village. He was in very bad shape, barely clinging to life when Baso had brought him to safety.
Now, as he sat up in the room provided by Baroness Celeste Karmon, Alaric reflected on his condition. Most of his injuries had healed remarkably well, except for his left hand, which was still bandaged and tender. The healer assured him it would fully recover in a few more days. His belongings had been recovered as well, with the unfortunate exception of Emberblast, which had been destroyed in the chaotic battle against the goblins. Despite this, he felt a surge of gratitude for his survival and the care he had received.
However, the situation outside was dire. Huge swaths of goblins had begun to swarm Merger, their attacks relentless and strangely fearless. Merger, a small territory with a central capital city overseeing several villages and small towns, was under siege. The goblin threat was growing, and Alaric knew time was running out to fortify their defenses.
Today, Alaric was scheduled to meet with Baroness Celeste to discuss the current threat. As he made his way to the meeting room, he steeled himself for the gravity of the conversation. Upon entering the room, he found Celeste already seated, her expression one of deep concern.
"Alaric, I'm glad you're feeling better," she greeted him, gesturing for him to take a seat.
"Thank you, Baroness. I owe my life to your people," Alaric replied, sitting down with a wince as his still-healing body protested the movement.
"We're all in this together," Celeste said with a nod. "Now, let's discuss the goblin threat. Our scouts report that their numbers are increasing daily. They seem to have lost all fear, attacking with a ferocity we've never seen before."
Alaric frowned, the memory of the relentless goblins still fresh in his mind. "It's not just their numbers. They're coordinated, almost as if someone is leading them. We need to find out what's driving them and eliminate it, or we'll be overrun."
As they continued to strategize, a servant entered the room, bowing respectfully. "Baroness, your daughter Margaret has returned from her expedition."
Celeste's eyes brightened with a mix of relief and anticipation. "Thank you. Send her in."
Moments later, the door opened, and a young woman clad in full plate armor entered the room. Her blonde hair was tied back, and her piercing blue eyes scanned the room before landing on her mother. She moved with the confident grace of a seasoned warrior, the metal of her armor clinking softly with each step.
"Mother," she greeted, her voice firm but affectionate. "I came as soon as I heard about the goblin attacks."
Celeste stood and embraced her daughter briefly before turning to Alaric. "Margaret, this is Alaric Vargas. He's been instrumental in warning us about the goblin threat and has been recovering under our care."
Margaret nodded to Alaric, her expression unreadable. "It's good to meet you, Alaric. Any friend of my mother's is welcome here."
"Thank you," Alaric replied, feeling a strange sense of relief at her presence. There was something reassuring about her confident demeanor.
They quickly got down to business, discussing the latest intelligence on the goblins. Margaret reported that her scouts had observed large groups moving with purpose, as if they were being directed.
"We need to find their leader," Margaret said, her voice decisive. "Cut off the head, and the body will fall. If we can take out whoever is orchestrating these attacks, we can scatter the goblins and end this threat."
Alaric nodded in agreement, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I can help with that. My weapons can provide the firepower we need to take out a leader, but we'll need a solid plan."
As the meeting continued, Alaric felt a strange sense of unity. For the first time in a long while, he was working with others toward a common goal.
Alaric came back to his room after the meeting ended, shutting the door behind him with a heavy sigh. As he leaned against the door, the weight of the situation settled on his shoulders. The pieces of the puzzle surrounding the goblin invasion were beginning to fit together, and it all pointed towards one unsettling conclusion: this was an artificial event. Someone or something was orchestrating this chaos.
"This whole thing reeks of manipulation," Alaric muttered to himself, pacing the room. "Goblins don't just lose their fear like that. Someone's behind this, and they know what they're doing."
For the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of relief working with others. There was no scrutiny, no hidden motives—just a shared goal to protect Merger. It was a strange feeling, almost comforting, to be part of something larger than his own vendetta.
Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Celeste and Margaret were having a conversation of their own. The mother and daughter sat in a cozy study, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the walls.
"Mother, we need to talk about Alaric," Margaret said, her tone serious.
Celeste raised an eyebrow. "What about him?"
"Something doesn't sit right with me," Margaret replied, leaning forward. "He's too knowledgeable about the goblins, too prepared. I can't shake the feeling that he might be involved in all this."
Celeste frowned. "You think he's behind the invasion?"
Margaret shook her head slightly. "I'm not sure. But his presence here, the timing... it's suspicious. He shows up just as the goblins start swarming, and he's equipped with weapons we've never seen before. It could be a coincidence, but we can't afford to take that chance."
Celeste sighed, considering her daughter's words. "I understand your concern, Margaret. But he's been nothing but helpful so far. We need all the help we can get."
Margaret nodded. "I know. But we need to keep an eye on him, just in case. If he is behind this, we need to be ready."
"Agreed," Celeste said. "We'll keep our guard up, but for now, let's focus on the immediate threat. The goblins won't wait for us to solve this mystery."
Margaret stood up, her expression determined. "I'll double the patrols and have our best scouts keep an eye on him. We can't take any risks."
As they finished their conversation, both women knew that the days ahead would be challenging. The goblin threat was real, but so were the shadows of doubt cast by Alaric's presence. In a world where alliances could shift like sand, trust was a rare commodity.
Back in his room, Alaric was oblivious to the suspicions swirling around him. He busied himself with preparations for the coming battle, unaware that the very people he was trying to help were questioning his motives.
"This is going to be a long fight," he muttered to himself, checking the mechanisms of his remaining weapons. "But at least I'm not alone in this."
As the night deepened, the mansion settled into an uneasy silence. Each person within its walls was wrapped in their own thoughts, preparing for the battles to come—both against the goblins and the unseen threats that lingered in the shadows.