The morning air was crisp and quiet as Kael and the others left camp, the rising sun casting long shadows across the forest floor. Kael adjusted his grip on his spear, his thoughts lingering on Marra's plan to investigate the ruined settlement. It was their only lead, but the idea of returning to a place ravaged by goblins filled him with unease.
"Stay sharp," Marra said, her voice breaking through the silence. "This path takes us closer to where the goblins were active. If there are any stragglers, they might still be around."
Kael nodded, scanning the surrounding trees. Thane walked close beside him, his staff glowing faintly as he muttered to himself, likely rehearsing spells. Corin brought up the rear, his dagger spinning idly in his hand, though his eyes darted constantly, wary of any movement.
"Have you been to this settlement before?" Kael asked Marra as they walked.
Marra shook her head. "I've passed by it, but I've never gone in. It was attacked weeks ago, and no one's been back since. If there are any survivors, they'll be hiding."
Kael frowned. "What makes you think they'll still be there?"
"It's the only place they had to go," Marra said simply. "There aren't many safe spots around here. If they left, they'd have been easy targets for the goblins."
The group fell silent again, the tension growing as they moved deeper into the forest. The trees grew denser, their gnarled branches casting eerie shadows that danced in the dappled sunlight. Kael's grip on his spear tightened, his instincts screaming that they were being watched.
"Something's not right," Corin muttered from the back of the group.
Kael glanced over his shoulder. "What do you mean?"
Corin gestured toward the trees. "It's too quiet. No birds, no animals—nothing. Either we're alone, or something's scared them off."
Marra held up a hand, signaling for the group to stop. She scanned the forest with narrowed eyes, her bow at the ready. The silence was deafening, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze.
"Stay close," Marra said quietly. "And be ready for anything."
***
It wasn't long before the trees began to thin, revealing the outskirts of the ruined settlement. The sight that greeted them was grim—a cluster of crumbling buildings, their roofs caved in and their walls scorched. Debris littered the ground, and the faint stench of death hung in the air.
Kael's stomach turned as he stepped into the clearing, his eyes sweeping over the destruction. The settlement had clearly been raided, and the signs of the goblin attack were unmistakable. Bloodstains marred the walls and ground, and broken weapons lay scattered among the rubble.
"This is worse than I thought," Marra said, her voice heavy with regret. "They didn't just attack—they destroyed everything."
Kael nodded grimly, his grip on his spear tightening. "Do you think anyone survived?"
"Let's find out," Marra said. She motioned for the group to spread out, each of them taking a different section of the settlement to search.
Kael moved cautiously through the ruins, his senses on high alert. The broken remains of what had once been homes and shops told a tragic story of chaos and despair. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him, though the settlement seemed deserted.
"Anything?" Marra called out, her voice carrying through the ruins.
"Nothing here," Corin replied from a nearby building.
"Same," Thane added, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Kael was about to respond when a faint sound caught his attention—a soft, almost imperceptible rustling. He froze, his heart pounding as he strained to pinpoint the source. The noise was coming from a partially collapsed house nearby.
"Marra," Kael said quietly, gesturing toward the building. "Over here."
Marra hurried to his side, her bow at the ready. The two of them approached the house cautiously, the rustling growing louder as they neared the entrance. Kael gripped his spear tightly, preparing for the worst.
"Whoever's in there, come out!" Marra called, her voice firm but not unkind. "We're not here to hurt you!"
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a young woman, her face pale and gaunt, her clothes tattered and dirty. She clutched a crude knife in one hand, her body trembling as she stared at them with wide, fearful eyes.
"Stay back!" the woman shouted, her voice shaking. "I won't let you take me!"
"We're not goblins," Kael said quickly, lowering his spear. "We're here to help."
The woman's grip on the knife tightened, her eyes darting between them. "How do I know you're not lying?"
Marra lowered her bow, her expression softening. "If we were goblins, we wouldn't be talking to you. We've been fighting them. You're safe now."
The woman hesitated, her eyes filling with tears as the knife slipped from her fingers. She fell to her knees, her body wracked with sobs. Kael stepped forward cautiously, kneeling beside her.
"It's okay," he said gently. "You're safe."
The woman looked up at him, her face streaked with dirt and tears. "They… they killed everyone. My family, my friends—they're all gone."
Kael's heart ached at the raw pain in her voice. "I'm sorry. We'll do everything we can to help you."
Marra knelt beside them, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Leena," the woman whispered. "I was hiding when they came. I thought… I thought they'd find me."
"But they didn't," Marra said softly. "You survived. That's what matters."
Leena nodded weakly, her sobs quieting as she took a shaky breath. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
"We're trying to figure out what's behind all of this," Marra said. "The goblins, the altar—we think there's more going on than just random attacks. Do you know anything?"
Leena shook her head. "No. All I know is that the goblins were different—organized, like they were following orders. I heard them talking about someone… something called the 'Master.'"
Kael frowned. "The Master? Did they say anything else?"
Leena hesitated, her brow furrowing. "Only that he's powerful. They seemed… afraid of him, even as they obeyed him."
Marra exchanged a grim look with Kael. "That confirms it. The goblins aren't acting on their own. Whoever this 'Master' is, he's the one pulling the strings."
Kael nodded, his mind racing. The pieces were starting to come together, but the picture they formed was far from reassuring. If the goblins were being controlled by a more powerful force, the danger they faced was far greater than they had imagined.
***
After ensuring Leena was stable, the group searched the rest of the settlement. They found no other survivors, but they did uncover more signs of the goblins' presence—tracks leading deeper into the forest and scattered remains of supplies that had been looted.
As the sun began to set, they gathered around the fire in what remained of the settlement's central square. Leena sat beside Thane, her body wrapped in a tattered blanket as she sipped from a waterskin. Her gaze was distant, her expression haunted.
"What's the plan now?" Corin asked, his tone impatient. "We've got one survivor and a vague mention of a 'Master.' Doesn't exactly give us much to work with."
"We follow the tracks," Marra said firmly. "They'll lead us to the goblins—and maybe to whoever this 'Master' is."
Kael nodded, though he felt a pang of unease. The idea of venturing further into the forest, closer to whatever force was controlling the goblins, was daunting. But they couldn't stop now—not when the stakes were this high.
"We move at first light," Marra continued. "Get some rest. We'll need it."
Kael lay awake that night, staring up at the stars visible through the broken roof of the building they had taken shelter in. The weight of what they had discovered pressed heavily on him. The goblins were only the beginning. Something far more dangerous was waiting in the shadows, and he had no idea if they were ready to face it.