Chapter 23: Dance, Riddle, and the Goblin Crown
Goblin Caverns had a reputation. Dark, damp, and riddled with hazards, most would shiver at the thought of entering its depths. Yet, for Hiroto, Luna, and Riku, it was another adventure.
Their journey led them to the grand chamber of the Goblin King. The room was illuminated with the soft, blueish glow of fungi. Stalactites dripped water rhythmically, creating a soft backdrop of sound. They entered cautiously, the heavy air pressing upon them, when suddenly, three goblin figures emerged from the shadows.
"You seek an audience with the King?" croaked the first Goblin Sage, his voice echoing throughout the cavern. "Three riddles you must solve, young ones."
The first riddle was posed, "What belongs to you, but others use it more than you do?" Luna whispered to Hiroto, "Your name."
With a nod, Hiroto voiced the answer and the sage stepped aside, revealing the second sage.
"White and fragile, if you drop me, I shatter, yet I can fly without wings. What am I?" Riku scratched his head, muttered "egg" to himself, not realizing he said it aloud. The second sage chuckled and moved aside.
The third sage stepped forward, his riddle cryptic and poetic. The trio pondered, but the answer eluded them. Hiroto, lost in thought, absentmindedly muttered about missing his mom's scrambled eggs. To their astonishment, the third sage declared, "Correct!" Apparently, the riddle was about memories of home.
The room beyond the sages pulsed with rhythmic drum beats. Goblins moved synchronously, displaying an impressive and intense dance routine.
Hiroto glanced at Luna and Riku, determination sparkling in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he started to dance. He combined moves from his world—moonwalk, robot, breakdance—with those of Valerion, making the performance oddly captivating.
Luna and Riku, never ones to let Hiroto have all the fun, joined in. The goblins watched in a mix of confusion and amazement. Their laughter echoed as the trio turned the challenge into an impromptu comedy show.
The drumming ceased, and a slow clap echoed across the room. The Goblin King, with his ornate robes and imposing crown, approached Hiroto. "You have spirit," he remarked, eyes gleaming with mischief. "But can you pass my trials?"
What followed was a series of absurd challenges, each more ridiculous than the last. From thumb wrestling to a tickling contest, Hiroto matched the King's enthusiasm and then some. The finale was a "Simon says" game, which had everyone, including the stoic goblin guards, in fits of laughter.
"I've never been so entertained," the Goblin King admitted. Holding out the coveted Goblin Crown, he continued, "Take this, Hiroto. Use its power wisely."
Placing the crown atop his head, Hiroto felt a rush of energy. He could sense the presence of goblins far and wide. Grinning, Hiroto issued his first command. Within moments, goblins emerged from every nook and cranny of the cavern.
And so, with his new goblin subjects, Luna, and Riku by his side, Hiroto initiated the grandest, goofiest dance party Valerion had ever seen.