The morning sun filtered through the trees as Lucas and Silas continued their journey, the peaceful forest air a sharp contrast to the tension building within Lucas. He had never experienced anything like this before. Despite the calming nature surrounding him, a knot of anxiety tightened in his chest.
As they rode in silence, a falcon suddenly swooped down from the sky, landing gracefully on Silas's shoulder. The bird let out a series of sharp, urgent cries. Silas's face darkened as he listened to the falcon's message, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a troubled expression.
"What happened, Grandpa? Is something wrong?" Lucas asked, his voice trembling with concern.
Silas's gaze softened as he turned to his grandson. "There's trouble ahead, Lucas. Goblins have attacked the nearest village. There might be more of them in our path. Stay close to me, and don't wander off."
The warning Hunterosa chief given turned out to be true.
Lucas nodded, gripping the reins of his horse tighter. He had read about goblins in books, but the idea of facing them in reality sent shivers down his spine.
Silas urged his horse forward, and they continued their journey. The day wore on, the sun climbing higher in the sky. Eventually, Silas signaled for them to stop. "We'll rest here for a while," he said. "Lucas, fill the water pouch from the river."
Lucas dismounted and walked to the riverbank, the still water reflecting his image back at him. His reflection showed a boy with dark midnight eyes, coal-black hair, and a petite frame. He hardly recognized himself sometimes, the face in the water belonging more to Lucas than to Oden.
As he knelt to fill the pouch, the AI's voice suddenly rang in his mind. "Warning: unidentified life forms detected." Lucas's head snapped up, and across the river, he saw a pack of wolves. His heart pounded in his chest as he took a step back, fear gripping him.
The smell of meat and fish reached his nose, and as he turned around, his blood ran cold. Standing behind him was the shadow cat he had seen earlier, its dark fur blending with the shadows, its yellow eyes glowing ominously.
This was just shadow. Is he messing with me? Lucus murmured to himself.
His heart raced, but before he could react, Silas's voice echoed in his mind. "Shadow, stop scaring my grandson. Fang, keep your eyes on the path ahead. We may need your help with the goblins."
The shadow cat, now identified as Shadow, snorted and moved past Lucas, its sleek body brushing against him with love and caring before heading back to Silas. Lucas watched in awe as his grandfather patted the enormous feline, the creature purring like a content house cat.
"How can you talk to them, Grandpa?" Lucas asked, his voice filled with wonder as he followed Shadow back to his grandfather.
Silas smiled, a twinkle of pride in his eyes. "Every mage has a natural affinity, Lucas. Mine is with nature. It allows me to tame animals and perform basic healing magic. You'll learn in time, once you start practicing magic yourself. But for now, let's rest. We have a long journey ahead."
As they rested, Lucas's mind buzzed with questions, but he held them back, unsure if he was ready for the answers. The forest around them seemed peaceful, yet he couldn't shake the unease that had settled in his chest.
When they resumed their journey, Shadow followed closely behind, its presence both comforting and intimidating. As they approached the outskirts of the village, the sight that greeted them was horrifying. Smoke filled the air, and blood stained the ground. The remnants of the goblin attack were everywhere.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere, several goblins charged at Lucas. But before they could reach him, Shadow sprang into action, taking down the attackers with swift, lethal precision. Lucas barely had time to react before the goblins were reduced to lifeless heaps on the ground.
As they ventured deeper into the village, the devastation became even more apparent. Bodies—both goblin and human—lay scattered across the ground. The stench of death hung heavy in the air.
A shrill cry pierced the silence, and Lucas's heart skipped a beat. He nudged his horse in the direction of the sound, a sense of urgency driving him forward. What he saw next made his blood run cold—a young girl, barely clinging to life, being violated by a group of goblins.
Before Lucas could act, the goblins noticed him and charged. But once again, Fang and his wolf pack appeared, tearing the goblins apart before they could reach Lucas.
Silas soon caught up, his eyes darkening as he took in the scene. He saw the bloodshot look in Lucas's eyes and understood immediately what his grandson had witnessed. "This is the law of the jungle, Lucas," Silas said quietly. "The strong prey on the weak."
Lucas's hands trembled as he gripped the reins. "I…I'll kill those goblins. How could they—"
"Be careful with your words, Lucas," Silas interrupted sternly. "You're not strong enough to back them up. For now, you can't even protect yourself. We need to find supplies and leave this place."
As Silas spoke, a movement caught Lucas's eye. A young girl, no older than ten, crawled out from a hidden space in a nearby house, her face streaked with tears. She stumbled toward the lifeless body of the woman who had just been violated, calling out, "Mama, we're saved! People are here to help us!"
Lucas dismounted and walked over to the girl. The woman's body was bruised and broken, her eyes vacant, but at the sound of her daughter's voice, a faint glimmer of life returned to them. She looked at Lucas, her voice barely a whisper. "Please…take care of my daughter."
Without thinking, Lucas nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. The woman smiled weakly, a tear escaping her eye as she took her last breath. Lucas stood frozen, his heart heavy with the weight of her final wish.
Silas placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, his voice firm but filled with sorrow. "We have to leave, Lucas. We can't do anything for her now."
Lucas's mind reeled. "But…the girl…"
Silas sighed, a deep weariness in his voice. "There's a horde of goblins heading this way. I can't protect you both. If we save her, she'll be taken as a slave or worse. It's better if she finds peace now."
Lucas was stunned by his grandfather's words. His body shook with a mix of anger, fear, and helplessness. "How can you say that? She's just a child!"
"The world is harsh, Lucas," Silas said, his tone carrying the weight of experience. "Better a quick death than a lifetime of suffering."
The girl, hearing every word, began to cry silently, her hope crushed. Lucas watched in horror as Silas gently lifted him onto his horse and started leading them out of the village. His heart ached as he looked back at the girl, her eyes full of despair.
Then, without warning, Lucas pulled out the bow from his back, his hands shaking as he notched an arrow. His mind was in turmoil, torn between his helplessness and a desperate desire to do something—anything—to help.
The girl's eyes met his, pleading, and in that moment, Lucas's decision was made. With tears streaming down his face, he drew the crown eagle bowstring and released the arrow.
The arrow flew straight and true, striking the girl in the chest. She slumped to the ground, her suffering finally over. Lucas's hands trembled as he lowered the bow, his heart heavy with the weight of what he had done.
Silas stopped, turning to look at his grandson. He saw the anguish in Lucas's eyes and understood the torment that decision had cost him. "That was the best you could do for her," Silas said softly. "Sometimes, mercy is the hardest choice to make."
Lucas didn't respond, his mind numb from the shock. The weight of the world seemed to press down on his small shoulders as they rode away from the village, leaving the devastation behind. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the forest, Lucas knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
As they turned away from the village, Silas's thoughts drifted back to a time long past. Six years ago... he thought, the memory surfacing against his will.
He had found another boy in a similar way—alone, frightened, and surrounded by death. That boy had been Lucas, and Silas had taken him in. At the time, he had told himself it was out of kindness, that he couldn't leave the child to die. But deep down, he knew there had been more to it. Lucas had a mana seed, a rare gift that Silas had seen as an opportunity, a chance to pass on his legacy.
Was it really kindness that drove me to adopt him? Silas mused, his heart heavy with doubt. Or was it the desire to pass on my inheritance, to train a successor worthy of my power?
He had struggled with that question for years, the weight of it pressing down on him. But now, as he looked at Lucas, as he saw the pain and confusion in the boy's eyes, Silas knew the answer. Whatever his reasons had been in the past, they no longer mattered. Lucas had become more than just a student, more than just a vessel for Silas's magic. He had become family.
I've come to love him, Silas realized, the thought bringing both pain and comfort. He's the grandson I never had, and I'll protect him with everything I have.
The years had changed everything. What had started as a practical decision had grown into something far deeper, something Silas could no longer deny. He would protect Lucas, guide him, and love him as his own, regardless of the past.
As they rode on, the weight of the past lifted slightly from Silas's shoulders. He could finally admit to himself that whatever his reasons had been, he was now driven by love, not obligation. And that made all the difference.
With a final glance back at the burning village, Silas turned his gaze forward, focusing on the path ahead. The road was long, and there were many challenges yet to come. But for now, he was content to simply be by Lucas's side, as a grandfather should be.
Note: In this world, there are no female goblins. Goblins take human females for reproduction.