The girl, with the boundless energy of her age, pulled Sebastian's hand enthusiastically as they went deeper into the forest. The trees rose like silent giants, their intertwined branches creating a labyrinth of shadows under the dim moonlight. The air was cool and damp, with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves.
Sebastian, still shaken by the amnesia that stole his memories, let himself be guided by the little girl. Despite the uncertainty, a protective instinct urged him to follow her, to take care of that strange girl with horns that fate had placed in his path.
She, with her heightened senses, moved with feline grace among the trees. Her small feet barely touched the ground, and her eyes shone with an unusual intensity in the darkness. Sebastian followed her with difficulty, amazed by her agility and connection to the environment.
Suddenly, the girl stopped, her small body tensing like that of a wild animal on the prowl. Sebastian almost bumped into her, surprised by the sudden stop. The girl sniffed the air intensely, her delicate nostrils dilating. A low growl escaped her lips, and her eyes fixed on a point in the depths of the forest.
Sebastian, his heart pounding, looked in the same direction. He couldn't make out anything in the darkness, but the tension in the girl's body told him that something was hidden in the shadows. Something she wanted to hunt.
Without hesitation, the girl crouched down and began to move stealthily towards the thicket. Sebastian, with his bow in hand and an arrow ready, followed her cautiously. The little girl moved like a predator, with a focus that contrasted with her tender appearance.
As they went deeper into the forest, Sebastian began to distinguish a faint sound: a soft rustling of leaves, a rhythmic breathing. The girl stopped again, crouching behind a bush, her senses alert. Sebastian imitated her, hiding behind a nearby tree, trying not to make a sound.
Carefully, Sebastian peeked out from between the leaves. A few meters away, a creature moved among the trees. It was small, with dark fur, and moved with surprising agility. Sebastian couldn't identify it with certainty, but something inside him told him it was dangerous.
The girl, her eyes fixed on the creature, extended a hand forward. A faint green light emanated from her fingers, and a vine sprouted from the ground, growing with astonishing speed towards the creature. Sebastian held his breath, watching the scene with a mixture of wonder and apprehension.
The creature, unaware of the danger looming over it, continued deeper into the forest. The vine, guided by the girl's will, extended like a snake, wrapping around a tree trunk and stealthily approaching its prey.
Sebastian held his breath, watching the scene intently. The girl, with absolute concentration, directed the vine with precision. The creature finally noticed the presence of the vine and, with a surprised squeal, tried to escape.
But it was too late. The vine lunged at the creature, trapping it between its strong tendrils. The creature struggled, trying to free itself, but the vine held it firmly.
With a gesture of impatience, the girl pulled hard on the vine. The creature squealed in pain, its hind legs detaching from its body with a sickening sound. Sebastian looked away in horror, but the girl didn't flinch. With a coldness that chilled his blood, she watched as the creature writhed in pain, its life rapidly escaping.
Sebastian shivered. The girl, despite her tender appearance, possessed a strength and determination that were unsettling. It was as if something ancient had awakened within her, something that didn't fit with her childish appearance.
The girl, satisfied with her prey, turned to Sebastian and pointed towards the interior of the forest. Sebastian understood the message: the hunt continued.
Following the girl, they went deeper into the forest. After a few minutes of walking, they came to a small clearing. In the center of the clearing, there was an opening in the ground, covered by some branches and dry leaves.
The girl approached the opening and carefully pushed the branches aside. Sebastian could see that it was a tunnel, descending into darkness. Without hesitation, the girl entered the tunnel, closely followed by the giant rat and the green creature.
Sebastian hesitated for a moment. He didn't like the idea of venturing into an unknown place, but he couldn't leave the girl alone. With a sigh, he crouched down and entered the tunnel.
The tunnel was narrow and damp, and the air was thick with the smell of earth and moss. Sebastian moved with difficulty, trying not to hit his head on the rocks protruding from the ceiling.
The girl, on the other hand, moved easily in the darkness. She seemed to know the way, guided by an instinct that Sebastian couldn't understand.
After a few minutes of walking, the tunnel opened into a wider chamber. Sebastian lit a torch, illuminating the place. It was a natural cave, with moss and lichen-covered walls.
In the center of the cave, a group of goblins huddled around a campfire. Sebastian counted at least a dozen of them, of different sizes and appearances. Some carried crude weapons, while others seemed unarmed.
The girl, upon seeing the goblins, stopped. Sebastian watched her closely. Her eyes shone with unusual intensity, and a cruel smile played on her lips.
The goblins, unaware of the girl's presence, didn't notice her until it was too late. With a war cry, the girl extended her hands, and the shadows of the cave swirled around her.
"Kragg! Gnarl!" shouted a goblin, raising his spear clumsily. (Intruders! Defense!)
"Grakk! Shargak!" shrieked another, pointing at the girl with a trembling finger. (A girl! Magic!)
The shadows, obeying the girl's commands, transformed into sharp claws that lunged at the goblins. The goblins, panicked, tried to defend themselves with their crude weapons, but the shadow claws were too fast and precise.
The cave became a pandemonium. The goblins, panicked, ran in all directions as the shadows stretched out like claws, catching and dragging them into the darkness. High-pitched and guttural screams echoed through the cavern, mingling with the squeals of the giant rat and the growls of the green creature.
"Kragg! Fleegar!" shouted a goblin, trying to dodge the shadows chasing him. (Flee! Escape!) But a claw caught him by the foot, causing him to fall to the ground. The green creature pounced on him, digging its sharp claws into his chest. The goblin convulsed, his scream dying in a gurgle.
The girl, with a frown and a grimace of concentration, directed the shadows with precision. Her eyes shone with an unearthly light, and her movements were quick and fluid. Sebastian, watching her in amazement, realized that the girl was far more powerful than he had imagined.
The giant rat, with its sharp teeth, tore at the throat of a goblin trying to attack the girl from behind. The green creature, with surprising agility, jumped from one goblin to another, scratching and biting fiercely. "Grakk! Die!" roared the goblin before falling to the ground, motionless. (Girl! Die!)
A goblin shaman, his face painted with tribal symbols, tried to defend himself with his magic. "Urrgh... Gnarfgar... Bleggargh!" he chanted, raising his staff. (Evil spirits! Attack the girl! Destroy her!) A fireball emerged from the tip of the staff, flying towards the girl. With an instinctive gesture, the girl extended her hand, creating a shadow shield that stopped the fireball. The shaman, his eyes wide with surprise, tried to cast another spell, but the giant rat jumped on him, biting his arm hard. The shaman screamed in pain, dropping his staff.
Goblin archers fired arrows desperately, but the shadows blocked their path, deflecting or catching them in midair. Some arrows hit the giant rat and the green creature, which squealed in pain but continued to fight fiercely.
A goblin, taking advantage of the confusion, managed to escape from the cave. He ran towards the exit, shouting "Skarr! Kragg!", alerting his companions. (Alert! Danger!) Sebastian watched the goblin flee, with growing concern.
The girl, oblivious to the goblin's escape, continued her attack. The shadows swirled around her, creating a whirlwind of darkness that engulfed the goblins. One by one, the goblins fell, their screams drowning in the darkness. The girl, with a cold and indifferent expression, showed no sign of emotion at the death and suffering.
Finally, silence returned to the cave. The goblins lay on the ground, inert. The girl, her breathing ragged, observed the scene with cold indifference. There was no trace of sadness or remorse on her face.
Sebastian, his heart still pounding, approached the girl. "It's over," he said softly, kneeling before her. "It's done."
The girl looked at him with her black eyes, and a slight smile touched her lips. She took Sebastian's hand and pulled him, leading him to the back of the cave. Sebastian, intrigued and somewhat frightened, followed her. Darkness closed in around them, and the girl, with her hand in his, guided him towards the unknown.
After the battle with the goblins, Sebastian and the girl continued deeper into the cave. The silence was profound, broken only by the dripping water and the echo of their footsteps. Sebastian felt relieved to have survived the encounter, but the worry about the unknown lingered. The girl, with her characteristic curiosity, examined the walls of the cave, stopping in front of a rocky section that seemed to catch her attention.
"What do you see?" Sebastian asked, approaching the girl.
She pointed at the wall with a finger, but Sebastian didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. "I don't see anything," he said hesitantly.
The girl insisted, pointing more insistently. Sebastian, trusting the girl's intuition, hit the wall with his fist. A hollow sound indicated that there was something behind it.
With more force, Sebastian hit the wall again. The rock crumbled, revealing a small opening. The girl smiled with satisfaction.
The opening led to a small hidden chamber. In the center, a wooden chest rested on a stone pedestal. The girl ran towards the chest, eager to open it.
Sebastian followed cautiously, but found no sign of traps. The goblins, it seemed, didn't expect anyone to find their hiding place.
The girl struggled with the chest and finally managed to open it. Inside, they found a small treasure: some uncut gems of vibrant colors and strange shapes, a pair of daggers with bone hilts carved with primitive symbols, and a small stone amulet with an engraved rune that Sebastian didn't recognize.
The girl took one of the gems and observed it with fascination. Sebastian smiled, glad that the girl found some joy amidst the situation.
They left the hidden chamber, taking the treasure with them. Sebastian kept the gems and daggers in his backpack, while the girl kept the amulet, hanging it around her neck.
Sebastian reflected on the discovery. He wondered about the origin of the cave and the purpose of his encounter with the girl. Despite his amnesia, he felt a strong need to protect her.
"I don't know what the future holds," Sebastian said, looking at the girl seriously. "But don't worry. I'll protect you."
The girl smiled at him and took his hand. Sebastian felt that, despite not remembering his past, he had found a new purpose in life.