Pril raised their hand, signaling for the group to stop for the night. The sun was beginning to set. "This spot is quite safe. Let's rest here for a while—I need to meditate as well."
"Isn't it a bit early to rest, Great Shaman?" questioned the Second Mother, her head bowed.
Lindel stood behind the Second Mother and smirked. It was disrespectful to question their own leader. The Second Mother was subtly trying to undermine Pril's authority while maintaining a polite demeanor.
Pril shot a fierce look. "Not at all. We need to rest for the remainder of the journey."
The goblins dropped their packs and lit a campfire. In normal times, the nighttime challenges would soon begin. Everyone was eager to prove to the others that they were worthy of intimate attention. Bria glanced around, imagining who her potential partner might be. She licked her lips, envisioning herself beating someone into submission and forcing everyone to witness that she was the best among them.
In goblin culture, power was everything. Finding a mate was just another battle—some argued it was the most important one—where goblins determined who was most worthy of passing their legacy onward. There was no such thing as "making love" in goblin tribes. Goblins had sex for pleasure and necessity but never for an emotion as powerless as love.
Power, cruelty, even sadism and lust, were taught as the highest priorities when choosing a partner; affection and empathy ranked last or were nonexistent. Many species would have found goblin culture revolting, but this was the Realm of Tristano, after all, where most species held similar beliefs. Perhaps none, however, were as literal and outspoken about it as the wild tribes of Carniçeiros Woods.
Bria noticed a handsome goblin standing a few meters away—Lorty was his name. The goblin realized she was staring at him and swallowed nervously. She had challenged him a few months ago, and he'd been foolish enough to accept. She had easily defeated him. Impressed by her overwhelming skill, he had offered himself as her companion for the night. Bria had accepted with a grin and proceeded to ravage him for the rest of the night. She left him with bruises and claw marks that lasted weeks—and not from the nighttime challenge.
Pril shouted, "Lindel, come here. It's time for my meditation, and I need your assistance."
"Huh?" Lindel had been busy talking to the Second Mother all day and had almost forgotten about the shaman.
Pril glared but said nothing. Instead, he took a deep breath and raised his right hand. After a brief moment, an orange, flickering flame appeared above his palm. Everyone stepped back in fear. Even the Second Mother seemed unsettled by the display of power.
Beads of sweat began forming on Pril's forehead. He was panting from the effort of the spell but didn't stop.
Pril frowned. "Lindel, are you refusing to obey me?"
This, too, was a battle—a test of intimidation and will to see who would yield first.
Lindel stared at the magical fire. "N-no."
Of course, she gave in first, I thought, watching the scene with a mix of curiosity and satisfaction. Pril was a damned shaman, for Sunary's sake. Who in their right mind would dare to challenge the shaman of their own tribe?
"Then come here. Now!" Pril shouted, clearly emboldened by Lindel's hesitation.
I watched Lindel, a venerable warrior, visibly shrink back before rushing toward Pril. It was disconcerting to see someone so respected show weakness, but it was also understandable in the face of a shaman's power.
"Is that how you greet your shaman?" Pril asked, stomping his foot firmly on the ground.
Lindel lowered her head and replied in a quiet voice, "Lindel, daughter of Blood Teeth, greets the great shaman."
Pril smiled, satisfied. "That's better. Now, you're going to help me with my meditation."
I noticed her fists clench, but she nodded reluctantly. "Yes, my shaman."
Before Lindel could step away, the Second Mother interjected, her voice heavy with authority. "Pril, what exactly do you intend to do with her? I hope you're not planning to propose a nighttime challenge or anything related to mating. Sunary forbids it. The chief has already declared that all nighttime challenges are suspended during our mission."
"Of course not. Ah, I almost forgot," Pril replied, a mysterious smile spreading across his lips.
My attention was diverted by Orny, who stepped in front of Bria with a defiant expression. "I challenge you," he declared.
I was stunned, almost unable to believe what I had just heard. Orny, that reckless goblin, had actually challenged Bria? The best fighter of our generation? He must have lost his mind.
Bria laughed, "Did you hit your head? Didn't you hear the Second Mother? You can't issue a night challenge, not today. And even if you could, do you really think you could beat me?"
"I will allow it," Pril said with an authoritative tone.
The Second Mother turned her head sharply, "What? You can't do that!"
Pril looked around, "I am the acting leader on this mission. I can permit any challenge I deem appropriate. Does anyone else disagree?"
The dozen or so goblins fell silent; no one wanted to speak against the fire-wielding goblin. Lindel opened her mouth, but when she saw everyone's faces, she realized her lone opinion wouldn't be enough.
Pril noticed Lindel and draped his arm around her shoulders. "Do you disagree?"
She bit her lip. "No."
"Are you sure?" He dug his claws into her arm.
"Yes, I'm sure I don't disagree!" she cried out.
Pril laughed. "Well, it seems no one disagrees with me as the acting leader."
Orny assumed a battle stance as he faced Bria.
The Second Mother sighed, "Very well, Pril. But I'll make sure to report all of this when we return."
Pril ignored her. "Let the challenge proceed."
Bria smiled sadistically. "Of course, I accept. I've defeated you countless times, Orny; it'll be fun to do so in a night challenge as well. But seriously, what made you think a kid like you could ever beat me?"
"I'm not a kid, Bria," Orny bared his teeth.
"You've always been a kid, boy. Being manipulated by others all the time," Bria mocked.
"I'll show you what a man looks like," Orny grimaced.
Bria laughed, "Oh, I'll enjoy this. Don't worry, after I win, I'll even mate with you, just for fun. Of course, you'll cry the whole time while I dig my claws into that soft skin of yours. And when I'm satisfied, I'll let you go, but you won't want me to do that. Because by then, you'll just be my little bitch."
Orny screamed in rage and attacked her. She ducked and landed two quick strikes to his chest. He coughed in pain and staggered a few steps back.
This is too easy, Bria thought. Goblins like Orny are so easy to lure in. A few insults here, some threats there, that's all it takes. She would love to break him.
"So, is this what a man looks like?" She taunted.
He attacked her with a quick series of strikes. She dodged most of them and blocked the few that landed. Bria followed up with a palm strike to his face, her claws scraping across his cheek. He screamed in pain and spun out of control.
Bria stepped back quickly and laughed. "You really thought you could beat me?"
Orny scowled and ran at her with an elbow strike, which she dodged and punched him in the ribs. He gasped and fell to the ground.
Bria let out a war cry as she jumped on top of him and began raining punches down on him.
I felt a nauseating wave of déjà vu as I watched Bria defeat Orny.
"I give up! I give up!" he yelled, trying to cover his face as best as he could.
Bria threw one more punch before standing up.
"Pathetic. You'll never be a man of the Blood Teeth tribe," she spat on him.
I observed the smile on Bria's face as Orny lay motionless on the ground, curled up.
Forget about not giving up, I thought with disdain.
Bria turned to Pril, who was staring at her with a scowling expression. "You really thought this kid could—"
Before she could finish, with a swift move, Orny kicked her legs out from under her. She hit the ground hard, and before she had a chance to react, he was already on top of her. His punches came like a whirlwind, all aimed at her head.
"Hey, this isn't fair!" the Second Mother shouted, outraged. Other goblins began shouting in agreement. Cries of "coward," "cheater," and other insults were thrown at Orny. But he didn't seem to hear any of it.
My eyes widened. He doesn't care.
I slowly looked around. Everyone was focused on how Orny had played dirty. Despite all the insults, none of the goblins made any move against him. They thought they were shaming him with their words, but none of them understood. Orny only cared about one thing: defeating Bria. Was that what he meant by that advice?
After a minute, Orny stopped punching her.
He grabbed Bria's head by the hair and spoke coldly:
"Pril hasn't called the match yet. You shouldn't have turned your back on this 'kid.' Give up."
Blood was dripping from her face. In response, Bria spat blood directly into his face.
I saw Orny shudder. He released her hair, and her head hit the ground with a sharp thud. She trembled in pain but remained silent.
Orny stared at her for a moment, then turned her over. He placed his right foot on her, pulling both her arms back with force.
"You always beat me for the smallest mistakes... or for no reason at all, just because you felt like it."
Not even the First Mother was this cruel. But I noticed something in all those beatings. I watched you for a long time and learned. You're great at fighting with your hands, but you can't kick to save your life. So let me take that arm of yours!"
...
1701 Words