Lilith stood with her arms crossed, a look of determination in her golden eyes. "Now that we've dealt with their disgusting little goons, we can't just wait around for them to retaliate. Goblins don't forget, and they certainly don't forgive. If we want to ensure our safety—and everyone else's—we need to strike first. We must attack their main base."
Eleo clapped his hands together with an infectious grin that stretched from ear to ear. His enthusiasm radiated as he exclaimed, "Alright! We're going to kick some goblin butt!"
Lilith froze at the sight of his excitement. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as her golden irises transformed into shimmering hearts. Oh my goodness, she thought, her mind spinning, he's so cute and… hot?! Her heart raced as she stared at him, completely lost in her thoughts.
"Lilith?" Eleo tilted his head, his fluffy ears twitching slightly as he studied her. "Are you okay?"
Snapping back to reality, Lilith quickly turned away, her high ponytails swishing as she hid her face from his view. "I-I'm fine!" she stammered, waving a hand dismissively, though her voice betrayed her nervousness.
Tony raised a skeptical bony brow, his sockets narrowing in suspicion. "Miss Lilith," he began in his usual dignified tone, "you wouldn't happen to know where this goblin camp is, would you? Or are we embarking on a blind goose chase?"
Still flustered, Lilith took a deep breath to compose herself. She turned back to face them, her expression shifting into a mix of confidence and embarrassment. "Y-Yes, I remember where it is," she said, her voice regaining its steadiness. "Follow me."
Tony placed his hands on his hips, his jaw rattling slightly in approval. "Very well, lead the way, Your Highness. But do try to focus on the task at hand and not on—" He gestured subtly toward Eleo, who was now distractedly kicking a pebble down the path. "—extraneous matters."
Lilith's blush deepened as she clenched her fists. "I am focused!" she retorted defensively, stomping ahead on the forest path. "Just stay close, alright? I don't want to have to save you if you get lost!"
Tony chuckled softly, his voice tinged with amusement. "Ah, youth. So full of fire."
Eleo, oblivious to the tension between the two, jogged after Lilith with his usual cheerful bounce. "This is going to be so much fun! I've never been to a goblin camp before!"
Tony sighed, adjusting his bow tie as he trailed behind. "Fun, indeed," he muttered dryly. "If we're not careful, this could very well be the last goblin camp we see."
The three of them disappeared deeper into the forest. As they pushed through the dense underbrush, the trio found themselves standing on the edge of a clearing, facing a massive goblin camp. The fort was imposing, with tall wooden walls reinforced with jagged spikes. Torches flickered along the ramparts, casting eerie shadows that danced across the crude but effective structure.
Tony whistled softly, his jaw rattling in mild surprise. "Well, I must say, that's a rather formidable camp for a pack of goblins. They've outdone themselves."
Lilith folded her arms, her golden eyes narrowing as she nodded. "Yes, that's the camp. I tried to fight those goblins there... but let's just say it didn't go as planned."
Eleo stepped forward, his fluffy tail twitching with excitement as he cracked his knuckles. "Well, let's go introduce ourselves!"
"Wait—" Lilith began, alarmed, but before she could finish, Eleo was already marching toward the gate.
"Eleo, stop!" Tony hissed, his bony hand reaching out to grab him, but the bunny kid was already too far ahead.
Reaching the massive wooden gate, Eleo raised a fist and knocked on it loudly, the sound echoing through the clearing. "Hey, you goblins!" he shouted, his voice bold and unwavering. "Open this gate right now so I can kick your butts!"
Before Tony or Lilith could react, a sharp whoosh filled the air as an arrow zipped past Eleo's head, embedding itself in the ground just inches from his feet.
Lilith's breath caught in her throat, and Tony's jaw nearly dropped from his skull. They sprinted toward Eleo, their panic evident.
"Eleo!" Lilith cried, grabbing his arm and inspecting him for injuries. "Are you okay?!"
Eleo, completely unfazed, glanced down at her with his usual cheerful expression. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
Tony pointed a skeletal finger at the arrow sticking out of the dirt. "Perhaps because that arrow was aimed at your head, you reckless child!"
Eleo tilted his head, his long ears twitching as he examined the arrow with mild curiosity. "Oh… an arrow on the ground."
Lilith's eyes widened, and she nearly shook him. "No, Eleo! They tried to shoot you in the head with that arrow!"
Eleo's face lit up with sudden realization. "Ohhh," he said, as if finally piecing it together. His expression quickly shifted, his usual cheerfulness giving way to a fiery determination. He turned back to the gate and knocked even harder, his small fist hammering against the wood with surprising force.
"YOU GOBLINS TRIED TO SHOOT ME?!" he shouted, his voice full of indignant fury. "OPEN THIS GATE RIGHT NOW SO I CAN TEACH YOU A LESSON!"
Lilith stared at him, a mix of awe and exasperation on her face. "This kid is… unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Tony placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. "Miss Lilith, I suggest you save your breath. He's not going to listen to reason. Let's just hope his sheer audacity doesn't get us all killed."
The goblins on the other side of the gate began shouting in their guttural language, their voices rising in alarm. The sound of scurrying feet and clattering weapons echoed from within the fort as they prepared for what was about to come.
Eleo turned back to Lilith and Tony, his grin fierce and confident. "Alright, looks like they're getting ready for us. Let's show them what we're made of!"
Tony sighed dramatically. "This will either end in victory or disaster. Probably both."
Lilith took a deep breath, her aura beginning to flicker faintly around her. "Alright then. If we're doing this, let's do it together."
With Eleo leading the charge, the trio stood ready as the gates began to creak open, revealing the
chaos and danger that awaited them inside.