Bral stepped back as three goblins advanced on him. An arrow zipped through the air toward him, and he barely managed to duck in time. The arrow clattered harmlessly against the wall behind him, but the momentary distraction gave one of the goblins an opening to lunge at him.
Before the goblin could reach him, a sudden earth wall shot up between them. Bral turned and gave her a quick nod of gratitude before she lowered the wall just as quickly as it had risen. The instant it disappeared, Bral surged forward, his sword thrusting into the goblin's gut. The creature let out a strangled cry as it fell, clutching at the blade embedded in its body.
The remaining two goblins didn't hesitate. They sprang at Bral simultaneously, snarling as they swung their weapons. Bral yanked his sword free from the first goblin and raised its lifeless body as a shield. The two attackers collided with their fallen comrade, their momentum thrown off as Bral shoved the corpse aside. In one fluid motion, he swung his blade, severing the head of one goblin. Its body dropped to the ground with a sickening thud.
An archer from the backline drew a bead on Bral. But before it could find its mark, Bao's arrow pierced the goblin archer's chest, causing it to stagger. It screamed in pain, but Bao wasn't done. She nocked two more arrows in quick succession, one striking the goblin in the heart and the other in the head. The creature crumpled, its bow clattering to the ground.
The last melee goblin charged at Bral, taking advantage of his momentary recovery after dispatching its companion. Bral tried to step back, but the goblin swung its short axe, narrowly missing his neck and instead grazing his shoulder. He gritted his teeth against the sharp pain and retaliated with a wide slash, cutting across the goblin's chest. It staggered backward, clutching at its wound, but Bral didn't hesitate. He drove his sword down into its body, silencing it for good.
Meanwhile, Amukelo found himself surrounded by five goblins. Three of them charged him simultaneously, while the fourth, recovering from the earlier kick, joined the fray. He stepped back, avoiding their initial swings, and countered with a powerful slash. His blade connected, cleaving through one of the goblins, but an arrow suddenly struck his shoulder. Pain flared through him, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to falter. With a roar, he completed his swing, slicing one goblin cleanly in half.
The fourth goblin lunged at him from behind, but before it could reach him, Idin's broadsword pierced it mid-air. The creature let out a strangled cry before falling limp. Idin pulled his sword free, but the effort left him exposed. The fifth goblin seized the opportunity, rushing at him with a jagged dagger raised high.
Before the goblin could strike, a fireball erupted against its side, sending it sprawling. The goblin writhed on the ground, and Idin wasted no time. He raised his broadsword and brought it down with all his strength, splitting the goblin's body in two.
Amukelo turned his attention to the last two goblins. One came at him with a wide swing, which he sidestepped effortlessly. The second followed closely, thrusting its crude spear at him. Amukelo parried the blow, sending the weapon flying from the goblin's hands. With a quick thrust of his sword, he drove his blade into the goblin's chest. It gasped, its yellow eyes widening in shock before its body went limp.
The final goblin recovered from its missed attack and rushed at Amukelo. He didn't waste time. Using the body of the pierced goblin, he shoved it into the last attacker, sending both of them to the ground. With a decisive step forward, Amukelo raised his sword high and brought it down, finishing the fight with one clean strike.
As the last of the melee goblins fell, the archers, now without their frontline, hesitated. Their beady eyes darted around the cave, assessing the situation. Seeing their comrades defeated, they exchanged a brief glance before turning and fleeing deeper into the cave.
The group stood amidst the fallen goblins, breathing heavily. Pao's magical flame hovered above them, its light revealing the carnage that surrounded them. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the acrid tang of sweat. For a moment, all was silent except for the distant sound of the fleeing goblins.
Bao and Pao hurried over to the others. "Are you okay?" Bao asked, her voice steady but tinged with worry as her eyes scanned the group for injuries.
Bral, wiping sweat from his brow, nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," he said, though his tone betrayed a hint of fatigue. "I'll use a healing potion."
Idin, holding his thigh where the arrow had struck earlier, gave a weak smile. "I'm good too, all thanks to Amukelo. If it weren't for him, things might've gone south fast." He looked at Amukelo and added, "You weren't joking when you said you were good with goblins. You not only saved me but handled most of them like it was nothing."
Bao reached into her satchel and handed potions to both Bral and Idin. "Here," she said, her usual stern tone softened by the relief of seeing them without any major wounds.
Pao, meanwhile, approached Amukelo with a potion of her own. She held it out, her face shadowed by a thoughtful sadness that hadn't left her since the previous day. Amukelo accepted it gratefully, drinking it down in a few gulps before looking at her closely.
"Thanks, Pao," he said with a small smile.
She nodded, but her silence and downcast gaze didn't escape him. Amukelo frowned, concern creeping into his expression. "Did something happen?" he asked, leaning in slightly. "Are you hurt? You seem sad."
Pao blinked and seemed to snap out of her thoughts. She quickly raised a hand, shaking her head. "No, no, no... I'm fine. I just…" Her voice trailed off, and she glanced away, avoiding his gaze.
Before Amukelo could press her further, Bral interrupted, his voice low but firm. "Shh... not so loud. Even though they probably know we're here, let's not make it easier for them."
Pao nodded quickly, retreating to Bao's side, leaving Amukelo standing there with a mix of confusion and worry. He watched her for a moment longer before sighing and refocusing on the path ahead. The group gathered their composure and continued deeper into the cave, their steps cautious, their eyes scanning for more threats.
As they moved further into the labyrinth of tunnels, Amukelo couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the pit of his stomach. His thoughts kept drifting back to Pao. Her sadness gnawed at him, and despite the danger surrounding them, he found his gaze drifting toward her more often than it should.
Pao walked near the back with her sister, her flame flickering softly as it floated ahead. She still wore the same distant expression, her brow furrowed in thought. Amukelo's concern deepened with each glance, though he tried to focus on their surroundings.
The quiet tension of the cave suddenly shifted. As Amukelo glanced at Pao again, a flicker of movement caught his eye—something behind her. His heart lurched as he realized what it was.
"Pao! Watch out!" he shouted.
Pao snapped her head up, startled, her wide eyes locking onto Amukelo. Before she could react, Amukelo's hand darted to his belt, pulling free a dagger in one swift motion. He hurled it with precision, the blade spinning through the air. Pao instinctively flinched as the dagger passed mere inches from her face, cutting a few strands of her hair before embedding itself in the throat of a goblin that had been lunging at her with a short axe.
The goblin let out a strangled gurgle, stumbling mid-attack before crumpling to the ground in a lifeless heap. Pao spun around, her hand flying to her chest as she took in the sight of the fallen creature, its weapon clattering harmlessly to the ground.
Amukelo was already rushing toward her, his sword drawn, his eyes scanning for any additional threats. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice tight with worry.
Pao looked at him, her cheeks flushed as she nodded slowly. "Tha... thank you, Amukelo," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I—I didn't even see it."
Amukelo let out a breath of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "You've got to stay alert," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "We're still in constant danger."
Bao joined them, her bow ready, her sharp eyes scanning the tunnel behind them. "It's amazing you saw it," she said to Amukelo, a hint of genuine respect in her voice. "Even I didn't sense it. Thanks for saving my sister."
Amukelo nodded, but his attention was still on Pao. Her usual composure seemed shaken, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her staff. She glanced at him again, her expression a mixture of gratitude and something deeper, but she quickly looked away, retreating to Bao's side once more.
As the group regrouped and prepared to continue, Amukelo couldn't help but feel that the danger lurking in the cave wasn't the only thing troubling Pao.