A few days passed, holed up in the dwelling. With Sengrar's insistence, the goblin reluctantly revealed a method of meditation to control his mage powers.
"One cannot control it well without tools; it would hurt your body," he said. Rargnes listened. He considered himself more akin to statistics than an exception.
Regarding the most effective methods to increase internal energy, fighting was placed second, only after murder during the apocalypse. The goblin taught him the technique to control and absorb internal energy properly – with the correct posture.
Otherwise, internal energy was partly absorbed by the body, sometimes to reinforce areas that, with an excess of internal energy, could explode or pose risks of discomfort.
They stepped out into the street, the goblin in the middle, Rargnes in front, Sengrar behind – he was wary of the goblin's escape.
The goblin – REDSTAR-Courage-to-Live – pointed towards an underground tunnel. "In addition to humans, plants are sown in the worlds. The theoretical goal of a warrior is to destroy them so the world does not suffer."
Then, it turned into an opportunity to find good slaves.
"How come your world doesn't have firearms?" Sengrar asked.
"Death is given to all those who possess them."
Courage de Vivre was the slave of a small master, born a slave, who – as required by law – was taught the rudiments of magic, his talent tested during childhood. He failed to show exceptional mastery, receiving only courses based on magic theory and sciences to create tools for his master.
He was sold and replaced – a goblin from a capital worth much more than another type of goblin. He was one of the helpers who assisted in setting up portals.
"Through here," he indicated.
The sky was illuminated.
"Are you sure there's no one?" Rargnes asked.
"Yes. The worlds are connected only for a short time. No portals can be used for more than several hours in three days - at least during the tutorial."
The memory of his second death came to his mind when he was ambushed by goblins. Was it just bad luck?
"Do some people stay? Or they really cannot?"
"It's not that they cannot; they break the laws. Traveling goblins or merchants are generally goblins without masters having seized an opportunity to run from their lazy masters."
A question could be asked to verify their loyalty. They could just ask it every day. Thus, goblins stood at the bottom and the top of society simultaneously.
"But who would make laws to limit them? They might as well seize entry and exit duties for slaves and goods and let them do all they wish."
"They don't want some to become too strong... you know, some humans have powers that allow them to defend against external threats." The goblin said this, tilting his head, seemingly embarrassed and insecure about his information. "That's what I heard," he said hurriedly, with pain in his voice, placing his hand on his red forehead.
"Is it the curse?"
"Better to call it a blessing," the goblin said weakly. "Those who don't become defective products. These are those who typically remain even after the closing."
The goblin became haggard, suddenly realizing he had become one of them. He would be declared a traitor, and posters to kill him with bounties would be posted.
Earthlings shouldn't defend themselves. They weren't prepared. When it happened, the losses were enormous, more than the price the lords paid to be allowed to come here.
The goblin pointed to destinations where they had probabilities of getting opportunities. He followed the magical traces left on the ground, arranged by the Gods according to his beliefs.
He pointed to a small dwelling. "Here, there should be something."
They searched the house all day without seeing any other goblins.
Rargnes dug into the earth and found a wooden token with numbers inscribed.
"What's this?" Rargnes asked. The goblin approached and exclaimed:
"a class improvement token!"
A voice appeared in Rargnes' mind.
[Class improvement token, place it on your heart without clothing to activate it.]
"What does it do?"
"It greatly enhances your nature with this class. However, the risks are also great. An inadaptability can lead to death, so we must find merchants or the second token."
Rargnes thought back to the sand in the supermarket. They had never found that token, or someone had hastened to hide it.
"Merchants? I don't have gold."
"They don't accept gold but provide energy. They are difficult to find and only accept deals that seem favorable to them. They roam this world like the plants that came to colonize it."
"But they didn't come through portals?"
"No, they appear naturally, like the system."