"Shit!" Freya cursed as she avoided another wild slash from a goblin that almost sent her to the floor
"Mana Bolt!"
Screaming the spell Freya thrust out her staff as the crystal pulsed with a bright blue light and sent out a fist sized bolt of pure mana that slammed into goblin sending it flying backwards.
Taking a moment to catch her breath Freya looked around for any more threats only to find her team finishing the last of goblins. Luckily she had been able to find a group of people willing to take her in.
Like Freya all of them came from outside of the Capital and were the first in their family's to enter the academy.
There was Hunter, a boy from a large farming village near the capital who was built like a barn with broad shoulders and an impossibly muscular frame. He of course had chosen the warrior kit which had given him a set of scale armor, a large wooden buckler and a longsword.
Next was a set of twins named Al and Alan who were raised in an orphanage and spoke little but weren't unfriendly. The pair also seemed to possess some way of communicating nonverbally with each other as their teamwork during their multiple encounters with the goblins had been impeccable. The two of them were responsible for the team's damage both being armed with throwing knives and a short sword.
Finally there was Luci, a short girl with black hair and pale skin. Her family owned a tailoring store and a sheep farm in their small village. She spoke softly and with a kindness and patience that many twice her age found hard to summon. Her desire to help others had led her to choose the priest kit which adorned her in cloth robes with a set of prayer beads that were enchanted with a simple healing spell called 'healing light.'
With all five of them making up the standard adventure party composition they had little difficulty killing the goblin they had come across. Until they had encountered a goblin group that had spawned one of the rarer variants a Goblin Warrior.
Standing a good foot taller than its brethren the Warrior was equipped with an actual metal sword and wooden buckler with some understanding of how to use it. On top of that it possessed a war cry which infused its fellow goblins with a red hue making them stronger and faster.
Letting her staff drop, Freya let out a ragged breath as her heart continued to pound in her chest, "I-I think….that was the last of them."
With a grunt Hunter dropped his shield to the ground and before leaning against the moss covered cave wall, "L-luci can I get a heal please?"
Luci walked over and knelt beside Hunter before holding out her hands clasped around a set of wooden prayer beads, "To the one above please bless this one with your holy touch: Healing Light!"
A golden glow subfused the prayer beads before it shot out a ray of light that struck Hunter and sunk into his body. Freya could see the boy's body relax as his pain faded away and his stamina was replenished.
"Thanks Luci. Freya, Twins you guys alright?" Hunter asked from his spot on the ground.
Al and Alan shared a look before turning to Hunter and nodded in sync. Smiling at their antics Hunter glanced at Freya, "You good?"
"I would be, if my damn heart realizes if the fight is over." Freya joked making Luci giggle in her high pitched musical voice.
Hunter opened his mouth to respond when the sound of heavy footsteps interrupted him. Soundlessly Hunter rose from his spot on the floor as he picked up his shield and mouthed, "Everyone get in position."
Al and Alan ran over to flank Hunter on either side as he faced the tunnel mouth where the footsteps became increasingly louder. Luci moved up right behind him with Freya at the very back.
Freya's hands tightened around her staff as the footsteps got louder and louder. But at the last moment Freya heard the quiet whispering of people talking as they moved, "I hear voices."
Hunter glanced over his shoulder at Freya just as a team of six walked around the corner and froze when they saw them.
At first Freya was relieved that it wasn't a wandering group of goblins, but then she noticed the gilded robes, upturned noses and pointed chins, 'They're nobles.'
Hunter let out a sigh of relief as he lowered his shield and sword, "Thank Tyr, sorry if we scared you all. We just fought off a Goblin Warrior so we're just a bit on edge."
The person in the lead, a boy with blue eyes and short blond hair swept to the side, sniffed, "Impressive for a bunch of untrained peasants."
The noble group all laughed haughtily and Freya felt her grip turn into a stranglehold on her staff. Her party had similar reactions even the kind hearted Luci.
"Look, we don't want any trouble." Hunter said through gritted teeth while trying to diffuse the situation.
"If you don't want any trouble then you'll move aside," a snobbish girl dressed in robes and holding a staff sneered from the back of the group.
"Easy, Penelope, there's no need to be hostile, I'm sure they'll be good dogs and listen to their betters." The boy in front joked with a cruel smile and a sick glee in his eyes.
"Listen here you little-" Freya shoved her way forward only to be stopped as Hunter held out his arm, "Hunter what are you-"
"We just came back from there, all you'll find are dead ends and dead goblins."
Penelope snarled, "Their lying Cornelius, Daddy always said never trust street filth."
"Why would we lie to ya, you daft bitch!" Freya screamed back pushing against Hunter's arm.
Cornelius raised a perfectly trimmed eyebrow as he stared at Freya, "Maybe you're right Penelope, I've heard from my brother that rarer variants tend to spawn closer to the boss room."
As one the party drew their weapons and Freya's eyes widened as Cornelius pulled out two short swords, 'How did he get two?'
Freya quickly moved to the back as Hunter raised his shield and sword, "What are you guys doing?!"
Cornelius' smile was twisted and cruel as he twirled his two swords, "The headmaster never said in-fighting was forbidden, besides your Focus will take you out if you take too much damage. Hope you guys last longer than the others."
Freya felt her stomach drop before rage flushed through her body and she thrust out her staff, "Mana Bolt!"
The bright blue orb of mana shot through the air aimed for Cornelius' smug face, but a large boy that was even a bit taller than Hunter seemed to teleport in front of Cornelius and block the magic spell on his shield and it shattered into countless shards of light.
"Thank you Bruno, now go have fun." Cornelius tapped Bruno on the shoulder who let out a low below before charging like a rampaging bull.