John's heart raced in sync with the pounding of his thoughts, each beat growing louder, sharper. He couldn't afford a mistake, not when someone's life hung in the balance.
"Yeah... I'll save you," he muttered under his breath, a thin smile creeping across his face. "If they don't kill me first... ha ha."
The two goblins snarled, their grotesque forms shifting near the doorway, eyes flicking between the bathroom and John. Their claws scraped the wooden floor as they crept closer. Sweat dripped from John's brow. His hands twitched, eager to cast, but the familiar surge of mana... wasn't coming.
Doubt gnawed at him. Would his magic be enough?
He swallowed hard, forcing a deep breath as he steadied his stance.
Focus.
The goblins, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger, moved in.
"Kyaah!"
The first goblin lunged, its fangs gleaming under the dim light. With a high-pitched screech, it brought its machete down in a swift, deadly arc.
John reacted, but his legs betrayed him—caught by the edge of a table. He crashed to the ground, gasping as the air left his lungs. The goblin loomed over him, jagged blade raised.
Without thinking, he shoved his backpack forward. The machete slammed into it with a sickening crack, the weight of the strike just shy of splitting him in half. John could feel the impact through the fabric, but it stopped inches from his chest.
The goblin growled, yanking at the machete, trying to free it. John's breath came in frantic gasps, panic surging through him.
"Shit…shit…!"
His mind screamed for action. Do something!
His hand shot up, fingers forming the familiar gesture—index and thumb aimed at the goblin's face.
"Magic Missile!" John roared.
Finally, the mana responded. Heat surged through him, a wave of power flowing from his chest to his fingertips. A spark of blue light flared at the tip of his finger.
The goblin's eyes widened in panic.
Boom!
A blinding flash erupted from John's hand, the force blasting the goblin backward. Its head snapped back with a grotesque crunch as it hit the ground, the lower half of its face blown away into a mess of torn flesh and shattered bone. It twitched once, then lay still.
John heaved, chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath. The acrid smell of burnt flesh filled the air, making his stomach churn.
"Ugh... disgusting."
He shoved the goblin's corpse off his backpack, its lifeless body rolling aside with a wet thud.
But there was no time to rest.
"Kuuuuagh!"
The second goblin screeched, rage burning in its eyes. It leaped, claws extended, closing the distance in a flash.
John had no time to think. He threw the remains of his shredded backpack at the goblin.
Thud!
The creature crashed to the ground, disoriented but not out of the fight. Its machete skidded across the floor, vanishing under the couch.
John scrambled to his feet, slipping on the blood pooling beneath him. His hand reached out, slick with gore, barely managing to steady himself.
But the goblin was faster. Already on its feet, its beady eyes locked onto him. There was no time for another spell, his mana reserves were running low, and his body screamed with exhaustion.
Think!
His eyes darted around the room, landing on the goblin's discarded machete—just visible beneath the couch.
If he could reach it...
With a burst of adrenaline, John dove for the weapon. His fingers closed around the handle just as the goblin pounced, knocking him to the floor. The creature's claws dug into his arms, snapping its jagged teeth mere inches from his face.
"Get... off me!" John growled, twisting his body, using every ounce of strength to throw the creature off balance. The goblin screeched, claws tearing at him, but he managed to roll on top, straddling the thrashing beast.
With a vicious grunt, John brought the machete down.
Thwack!
The blade cleaved through the goblin's neck with a sickening squelch. Blood sprayed across John's face, but he didn't stop. He struck again and again until the creature lay still beneath him.
John collapsed back, panting, arms trembling from the effort. The room was silent, save for his ragged breathing. Two goblins lay at his feet, bodies mangled, twisted in death.
He wiped the blood from his eyes, standing on shaky legs.
"Hey... kid," John called out, voice hoarse. "It's over. They're dead. You're safe now."
There was a long pause. Then, the bathroom door unlocked with a soft click.
John moved slowly, still catching his breath. He pushed the door open to reveal a small girl, huddled in the bathtub, knees pulled to her chest. Her wide, fearful eyes locked onto him, her small frame trembling.
"It's okay," John whispered, kneeling beside her. "You're safe now."
The girl's gaze darted between John and the blood-soaked room behind him.
John offered his hand, voice soft. "Come on. Let's get out of here."
Hesitantly, the girl reached up and took his hand. He gently pulled her to her feet, wrapping his jacket around her frail shoulders.
"Tie this around your head," he said, guiding her hands. "You don't need to see what's out there."
She nodded shakily, doing as he asked. "O-Okay..."
John lifted her into his arms, her face buried against his chest as he carried her through the room, stepping over the corpses. He didn't want her to remember this nightmare.
As they reached the door, her voice came, muffled against his shirt. "My mommy and daddy... they're gone, aren't they?"
John's heart sank. He hesitated, not knowing how to respond. But he couldn't lie to her.
"Yeah," he whispered, his throat tight. "They're gone."
Her small body shook, but no tears came. Instead, she clung tighter to him.
"But listen," John's voice hardened, firm but gentle. "Your parents did everything to protect you. I'll do the same."
The girl lifted her head slightly. "You... promise?"
John looked her in the eyes, his resolve unwavering. "I promise."
____________________
*Today*
The De Witt camp was silent as the sun began to rise, casting a pale light over the shabby collection of tents and makeshift shelters. John trudged through the camp, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. Grace, the little girl he had saved, was asleep in his arms, her small face buried against his chest.
Ten days. It had been ten days since they had arrived at the camp. Ten days of searching for her parents. But no one had seen them.
John stripped off his clothes, changing into something more comfortable before collapsing onto his sleeping bag. His muscles ached from the constant fighting, the endless patrols, and the ever-present threat of goblins and other monsters. Yet, his mind was elsewhere.
As John reached his small shack, he laid Grace down gently in one of the sleeping bags. She stirred briefly but didn't wake, her tiny hand still clutching the pink giraffe plushie he had found for her.
John stripped off his clothes, changing into something more comfortable before collapsing onto his sleeping bag. His muscles ached from the constant fighting, the endless patrols, and the ever-present threat of goblins and other monsters. Yet, his mind was elsewhere.
He glanced at his status window.
____________________
Name: John Fletcher
Level: 14
___________________
Jobs:
First Job: Archmage
Second Job: Young Warlock [Growth Type]
Sponsor: Merlin
___________________
Titles:
Knight in Shining Armor - A true protector of the weak: brave and kind. +2 in all stats.
___________________
Stats:
Strength: 27 (+2)
Agility: 17 (+2)
Intelligence: 37 (+2)
Stamina: 31 (+2)
Magic Power: 44 (+2)
___________________
Skills:
MANA CIRCLE [2] – The ancient practice of condensing magical power around one's heart, inscribing marks within the soul. More circles mean stronger, more complex spells.
MANA CONTROL [EX] – The exceptional ability to control both one's own mana and the mana in the surrounding environment. Allows mastery over magic.
HIGH-SPEED CALCULATION [EX] – The ability to perform rapid mathematical calculations, essential in the field of magic.
LOVED BY THE MANA [EX] – The mana adores you. Affinity with every element (light, shadow, fire, water, earth, wind, space, and time).
MAGIC MISSILE LV.4 – A condensed mana projectile. Higher levels increase range and damage.
BALL TYPE MAGIC LV. 2 – Allows the creation of a condensed mana sphere. Can influence the type of mana used.
WALL TYPE MAGIC LV. 2 – Allows the creation of a defensive wall with mana. Can influence the type of mana used.
___________________
Coins: 1700
___________________
John's eyes lingered on the screen for a moment before he closed it with a thought. He leaned back, his head resting against the wall of the shack.
"I'll find them," he whispered to himself.
"I promise."
But as the world began to fade, the only thing on his mind was Grace, his parents, and the weight of the promises he had made.