As the massive gates swung open, the goblin leader sauntered out, his grin wide and smug. He was dressed in ragged scraps of fabric that vaguely resembled a robe, with a crooked crown perched on his head. His green skin was covered in grime, and his sharp, yellow teeth glinted in the dim light.
"Welcome, welcome!" the goblin leader crowed, his voice carrying a thick Cockney accent. "Come on in, you lot, to the biggest, rowdiest goblin party you'll ever see! Drinks, grub, and good times all 'round!"
The goblins behind him erupted in cheers, banging on makeshift drums and clinking together mugs of dubious-looking liquid.
Eleo scratched his head, clearly confused. "Wait, you don't want to fight us?"
The leader laughed, throwing his head back theatrically. "Fight? Nah, mate! We ain't stupid—well, not that stupid. You lot look tougher than a week-old steak! So instead, we figured we'd show you some proper goblin hospitality!"
Lilith's nose crinkled in disgust as she peered past the leader into the camp. The scene was a nightmare of filth and chaos. The ground was muddy and littered with bones and scraps of trash. Goblins danced wildly, spilling drinks everywhere, and the smell of something foul lingered in the air.
Her golden eyes narrowed, and she thought, This is beyond disgusting. I'm royalty—I shouldn't have to endure this… Please, Eleo, don't say yes.
But then, Eleo beamed. "Okay! A party sounds fun!"
Lilith froze, her heart sinking. Damn it. She quickly grabbed Eleo's arm, her voice desperate but polite. "Eleo, are you sure you want to party with… them?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! If they don't wanna fight us, then they're good for now, right?"
Lilith sighed, her internal conflict raging. "Well… okay, dear. If you want to party with them, then I'll… do the same." She smiled sweetly, but inside she was screaming. This is the worst! But if Eleo wants to, I'll endure it for him… my love.
The goblins cheered louder as they led the group into the camp. Tables made from uneven planks of wood were piled with strange, steaming dishes. The goblins passed around mugs of what they called "goblin brew," and a crude band of goblins with pots, pans, and a rusty horn began playing a chaotic tune.
Tony, to everyone's surprise, was already mingling with the goblins. He raised a mug of brew and shouted, "Not bad for goblin swill! Cheers, lads!" The surrounding goblins laughed and clapped him on the back.
Eleo joined in the festivities with boundless energy, dancing with the goblins and trying their bizarre food. He didn't seem to mind the mess or the smell, and his cheerful laughter filled the air.
Lilith, meanwhile, sat stiffly at a corner table, doing her best to maintain her composure. She sipped cautiously from a mug, her face twitching as the bitter liquid hit her tongue. She thought, I can't believe I'm doing this. For Eleo… only for Eleo.
One goblin sidled up to her, grinning. "Oi, princess! Loosen up, eh? It's a party!"
Lilith forced a smile. "Oh, I'm… having a wonderful time," she lied, while inwardly cringing.
As the night wore on, the party grew wilder. Eleo challenged the goblins to silly contests, like arm wrestling and who could eat the most questionable stew. Despite their protests, he won every time, his cheerful determination baffling the goblins.
Tony, fully immersed, was teaching a group of goblins a skeleton jig, his bones clacking rhythmically as they tried to mimic his movements. "Come on, lads, put your backs into it!" he shouted, laughing as they stumbled and fell.
Even Lilith found herself reluctantly smiling when Eleo pulled her into a dance. His infectious joy melted her irritation, and she let herself twirl with him under the dim torchlight, her cheeks burning for an entirely different reason.
By the end of the night, the goblins were passed out in piles, snoring loudly. Eleo, Tony, and Lilith sat around a fire, their bellies full and their spirits high.
"That was so fun!" Eleo declared, flopping onto his back with a contented sigh.
Tony chuckled. "Aye, not bad for a bunch of filthy goblins."
Lilith, still recovering from the ordeal, gave Eleo a fond look. "You have a way of finding joy in the strangest places, Eleo," she admitted softly.
He grinned up at her, his ears twitching. "Of course! A party's a party, right?" As the trip fell asleep, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the filthy goblin camp, Eleo stirred from his slumber. He stretched lazily, his ears twitching, but as his hand brushed against cold, rusty metal, his eyes snapped open. He found himself in a crude wooden cage, the bars reinforced with twisted vines and bones.
"What the heck?!" Eleo shouted, grabbing the bars and shaking them with all his might. The cage rattled, but it held firm.
Lilith groaned awake, rubbing her eyes before realizing their predicament. "What in the Abyss—?!" she exclaimed, her glowing golden eyes flaring as she looked around. "How dare they! I knew goblins were filthy and untrustworthy, but this?!"
Tony, sitting cross-legged in the corner, was already awake. He adjusted his monocle calmly. "Ah, good morning, young ones. It seems our gracious hosts decided to change the nature of their hospitality during the night."
Eleo turned to Tony, his face a mix of confusion and frustration. "How can you be so calm?! We're locked up like… like… carrots in a crate!"
Tony shrugged. "I've seen worse. At least they didn't steal my bowtie."
Lilith stood, her fists clenched and her aura flickering faintly. "When I get my hands on that slimy goblin leader, I'll show him what demon royalty is capable of!"
Suddenly, the cage door swung open with a loud creak, revealing the goblin leader flanked by two guards. He wore his crooked crown and a smug expression.
"Morning, sunshine!" the leader jeered, his Cockney accent grating. "Hope you slept well, 'cause you're gonna have a real bad day!"
Eleo pressed his face against the bars, glaring at the leader. "You liar! You said we were here to party!"
The goblin leader chuckled, his yellow teeth flashing. "Oh, we partied alright. But while you lot were busy dancin' and drinkin', we were makin' plans. See, we figured a bunny kid, a skeleton, and a fancy demon princess like yourself would fetch a nice price on the market!"
Lilith's eyes burned with rage. "You'll regret this, you disgusting little toad!"
The goblin leader laughed, ignoring her fury. "Oh, I doubt that, love. But hey, don't take it personal—it's just business!"
Eleo's grip on the bars tightened. "You're gonna regret messing with us!" His voice carried an edge of seriousness, his cheerful demeanor replaced by fierce determination.
The leader sneered. "Oh, big words from a bunny in a cage. Let's see how tough you are without your fancy tricks, eh?"
As the goblins turned to leave, Tony leaned closer to the other two. "Alright, let's not panic. I've dealt with worse than goblins, and I have a plan."
Lilith, her anger barely contained, hissed, "It better be a good one, skeleton, because when I get out of here, I'm burning this entire camp to ash."
Tony smirked, tapping the cage floor with his bony fingers. "Oh, it's a good one. Just follow my lead."
Eleo, still gripping the bars, grinned. "Alright! Let's show these goblins what happens when they mess with us!"