10 - The small goblin kingdom.

The small goblin kingdom.

Gabriel was exhausted. It was his third day there.

— Come on, today is the last day, get up. — Jake held out his hand.

— I don't have any chance of using this to my own advantage.

— You're not that bad, boy. I am the one who is very good. — He puffed out his chest in an arrogant tone.

Gabriel got up, Jake walked away. So Gabriel came forward with a wooden sagger, getting close to Jake, took a slight stoop to hit his legs, but took another kick. In those three days there were several.

— Ah, come on! This is unfair! At the moment the monsters will not know that I will do this to kick me. — Gabriel did not raise his voice.

— The problem is your speed, you have to be faster, if you are fast enough, I don't kick you.

What kind of sick training is this?

I'm sure no one learns anything in 3 days.

He just wants to kick me, I'm sure.

— let's go again! Get up!

A drop of sweat fell on Gabriel's chin.

— Well, that really looked hard. Jake doesn't take it easy. — Zoe replied, while the two ran in their morning exercises.

— It's like that. But in the end, I managed to do it a couple of times without him kicking me. I just learned the skill, but i kinda got faster and stronger, even if only a little. — A silence lasted for a few minutes, and then — The skill's name is flash flush, by the way. And your training, how was it? — Without realizing Gabriel tried to bring up some subjects to talk more with her.

— Compared to yours, I think it was easy.— They stopped walking, had reached the distance they wanted. So, they were walking slowly to do the exercises on the mat again. And Zoe spoke again. — the skill I learned was "advancement", like the name says I advance at a surreal speed with the sword and hit the monster or something like this.

— So, can you use this to get away too?

— I also thought about it, but it's a kind of magic, so I can only use it to advance on any enemy. However, I can use it to bypass or go to the back of some of them, I just can't go in the opposite direction, so it's very flexible.

— Heh, cool, I wish I had something like that, it looks a lot cooler.

— Yeah, kinda.

— Where does your English come from anyway? I asked before but you never answered.

Zoe quieted, her usual smile faded. She stopped walking for a moment, but soon followed him.

— Even after all this time, remembering is difficult.

Oh sorry. — Gabriel thought, but didn't speak. It didn't seem right.

Zoe took courage, took a deep breath and said:

— My parents. My mother to be more exact, she was American and my father was Brazilian. I learned more English than Portuguese. When it all happened I was visiting the home of my paternal grandparents here in Brazil.

— Oh... I don't know what to say...

— No problem, it's been a long time anyway and it's not like only i lost my family, we all lost.

After that, the atmosphere between the two became strange, and they did not speak the rest of the way.

Gabriel wanted to say something, wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't. Everything he thought it looked shallow.

This is not what I would like her to say to me.

Actually, I would like her to say something to me?

I don't think so. I don't know what I want. But I know that I need something. But what?

Well, this is not about me.

But I don't know what she expects of me. I don't know what she wants.

It is better to remain silent. I just hope I don't break any expectations of her. Not hers.

Not that there is anything special. Is not it.

Soon, they arrived at the training center. Jake was there, this time with a woman, then they passed by, just waving a hand from afar. While it was Gabriel's turn to do the sit-up and Zoe to rest, she started pulling subject to end the silence that was driving Gabriel crazy.

— You know, why don't you ever smile?

Gabriel stopped for a moment.

— huh? — Without understanding.

— Ahh, Sorry, I meant, why don't you ever smile?

— Oh, I'm not very good at English, sorry. — he said that and went back to doing his

abdominal, thoughtful.

I never smile?

Since when?

I didn't notice. Why do I never smile?

I don't know. I can't understand myself.

What am I doing...

— So...? Zoe interrupted her reasoning.

— Ah, sorry, I ... I was thinking. I never even... noticed it.

Have I always been like this?

No. I must smile, at some point I must have smiled, certainly ...

— You should laugh more. I mean, it sucks to be boring like that, don't you think?

— It's not because I don't smile that I'm boring. — he stopped doing. Or better, finished.

For now, I will act like I don't.

— Of course it is, what kind of nice person doesn't smile? Just smile, man.— Zoe took her

pointing fingers, one from each hand, and pulled the corner of the lips, forming a smile. — Smile! — stammered

— I don't know. I don't remember if I was really someone who smiled a lot. I don't think that we are in a position to do trivial things like that.

Yeah.

We need to focus.

Maybe I didn't smile at all.

Why would I even need to smile?

I just need to survive.

— What do you live for, if you aren't happy enough to smile?

— Smile is not everything in this life.

— Smile is a demonstration of feeling. You need to show people that you care about them. — She put her closed fist on Gabriel's chest, on the side of the heart. She looked serious. She had her usual face. she wasn't smiling, but wasn't sad too. Just like when she talked about her parents. It was more like she was determined.

— I don't need to live for others, do I?

— Not for others, but to live for yourself you need others. How would you hunt without anyone? You tried. You can't. If you weren't friends with Larissa before all this, you'd screwed. — She made a face, looked angry.

Would i be?

Perhaps. No. For sure.

But I am not in the mood to smile at others. Not even for myself.

I like that kind of conversation.

Calms me. It seems that everything is fine. We look like two teenagers talking about feelings.

It doesn't look like we kill Monsters as a means of support. It doesn't seem like it happened anything.

— There is nothing to do, humanity lives together, we are society, before or now. There is no way to isolate yourself, especially in the situation where all we are. — she continued.

— Maybe you're right. But not smiling and faking a smile is not much different. I prefer to at least be honest with myself.

— Sometimes, you look like you're about to explode. Freak out. I wonder if I'm just thinking too much ... — She gave him a suspicious look, as if wanted to know if he's okay.

Even if i was about to die i wouldn't tell her.

I don't want them to think I'm crazy.

In fact, I'm completely fine.

So, why don't I want to talk?

Maybe I'm not that fine..

— See, you're doing it now.

— Ah, I just ... I'm thinking too much. It's nothing.

— If you say so, fine then.

She prepared to do her sit-up. she sat and with her hands meeting around of the knee said:

— You can talk to me, you know.

And without a single word more, the two did the rest of the exercises.

Both arrived in the boys' room, as usual, and Miguel, Laura and Larissa were already there.

— Late. — It was the first thing Larissa said when she saw her companions after that short period.

— Ah, it was my bad ... — Gabriel exchanged looks with Zoe and then: — Something came up.

— Something? Oh, never mind, how were those days for you?

— Ah, it was normal, I think, I learned the flash flush skill, other than that nothing special.

— And you? — Zoe asked.

— I had a skill for archery, now I learned "double hit". Basically i increase the speed with which I can hit. While the others... — Zoe interrupted her.

— Wait. Do you have an ability to use bow and arrow? i mean, what? You don't even uses bow and arrow.

— Truth! But the first time I saw her, Larissa was using one... — Gabriel commented.

— You would be surprised at how good I am. In fact, it's mine specialty.

— Then...

— But it broke, the day after Gabriel arrived. The cost is very expansive, the bows are 30 or 40 silver coins, apart from the arrows I would need reset. We know that we aren't able to do something like that, right? — She threw one look at Gabriel, but without malice.

— Heh, cool. Sad too, but cool.

Miguel, who had no skills, apparently learned "stun", which is to increase strong of the shield, hitting twice with an abnormal force, and that usually makes enemies fall or stunned at the very least.

Honestly, even I know how to do it. - But apparently the shield was strengthened with some kind of magic for that.

Laura, on the other hand, has not learned any new skills. What she did was to improve the three. she has and increase the number of times she could cast. In the begin, she could cast three times in a short time between each, after those three, it would have to wait a long time to be able to use it again, now she was able to use four. In addition, the projectile became projectiles, two, which affects the goblins' heads increased the percentage of success, before some goblins were able to stay unharmed, while stronger monsters were almost never affected, now only goblins and stronger monsters should be able to escape much less. The healing remained the same, just reduced the casting time a little, it was practically impossible to cast in the in the middle of a battle before, right now, it's easier. Furthermore, she can no longer exceed the spell limit in any case, if she does, she will have a 99% risk of death.

After everyone talked about their improvements and training, without much detail, under the Larissa's command, everyone went hunting. But it wasn't in the same place as always, Larissa had other things in mind, after all, the intention of all training was to be able to increase the hunting, it would not make sense to stay at the same place. There weren't many goblins in that forest.

They had zero money, with the whole crisis. And the training was not free.

they had to achieve something, something good.

I think things will finally be kind of... cool.

Cool? No ... that's not the word, I don't even know if it comes close.

I don't know how things are going to go.

I don't know how I want things to stay. - as he walked toward the new location, Gabriel was thoughtful. At the end of his reasoning, he noticed Zoe, who was looking at him, but soon looked away.

Gabriel was still lost in thought. He didn't know where to go. What motivations did he have to live? Possibly none. He had only thought of killing monsters in the heat of the moment, perhaps in despair and lack of option, after all, losing everything that not only he, but everyone, lost and then continue living with a life monotonous merchant or similar in the situation he was in was out of the question. If so, perhaps even suicide was better.

It would be completely useless to live that way.

But even when awakened, there was no reason to live. Or rather, maybe it was more correct to say that he was not living, just existing. A weak, unstable and sad existence. But he didn't have time to think about himself anymore, they arrived. The place was, literally, a sewer.

Before.

— What?! So are we basically going to hunt the same thing? We don't have any conditions, dude! — Zoe raised her voice in surprise.

I'm kind of happy with her taking this initiative.

— As I was saying ... We probably couldn't go against better monsters these days. But we certainly managed to kill the goblins more easily.

— This is... — Miguel wanted to participate, but said just that, leaving the rest for Larissa who spoke with some excitement

—... This is, we managed to defeat more globins in less time! For example, before we had an average of one group in the morning and two in the afternoon, right? Now we should get two in the morning and three or even four in afternoon without problems!

— And problem solved. — Completed Miguel.

This seems to work, let's try. — Quiet throughout the conversation before leaving,

Gabriel, together with the others, went to the designated place.

Now

As they entered the sewer, the lights went out. The place was dirty, there were parts of the floors that were wet and parts of the ceiling that dripped that rotten water. The biggest part of the wall was covered with mud and the current of water could be constantly heard that was in the middle, however, there weren't really many places with sanitation, so the water volume was not very high or anything, and they could go to the other side with some effort and courage. It was a place that no one would want to be in, not that Gabriel and the others had much of a choice. It was annoying, disgusting. exist many adjectives for this, but there is no need to quote. Furthermore, even if it was just few, there were cockroaches, rats and bats. The reason why there are just a fews, goblins, of course. Larissa's reason for wanting to go to the sewer instead of staying in the forest it was simple, in the forest there was no demand for goblins so high, the sewer was almost like a small kingdom of them. Yes. The little goblin kingdom. That's how they started to call, Laura gave the idea, but sometimes it was still called sewer, it was easier. In anyways, the goblins settled there and had the small animals there as food. There was proliferation and the rest is obvious.

It looked like a maze, but there it was easier than the forest to make a map, Zoe took a paper and was making a mini map for them. So, they would find themselves without having to buy a map.

She was really creative in that.

I mean, not that it's hard to think about it, but with everything going on it didn't even come close from my mind.

It is important. For the whole group, of course.

Some time passed, about fifteen minutes, before they found the firsts goblins. It was just before a bend to the right into the sewer, the goblins were turning the end of the corridor. They were quite noisy, unlike Larissa and the group, who knew they couldn't make a noise there, so they just spoke in whispers.

— Gabriel, go see how many there are. — Larissa ordered.

Light steps.

He walked slowly. It was strange that it didn't make much noise or even none noises. He was as cautious as if he were normally, he didn't know what skill limit, when it would fail or something. And in a way, he couldn't believe that he was not making noise, so did things like tiptoeing.

There are five, then.

Ok we can handle it.

He came back, this time more hurriedly and without much care, but nothing unexpected it happened.

— There are five of them.

— Okay, let's do the deal.

— Right. — everyone replied, nodding.

The deal. The deal, in fact, was pretty much the same as before. Miguel holding two with Laura, while Gabriel, Larissa and Zoe were all three in a one-against-one. The only thing that changed was that they needed to do it fast, finish fast. No spaces for vacillations.

Now is my time.

They revealed themselves, each taking his post. Miguel took the 1st and 2nd goblin. Larissa, Zoe and Gabriel, got the 3rd, 4th and 5th goblins respectively.

This has to be quick.

And I don't have a nanny anymore.

Prove myself. I still have to prove myself.

Gabriel didn't have the element of surprise, he didn't inflict a fatal blow or anything like that before start as he did in the forest, this kind of thing was much more difficult to happen in this current location. He faced the enemy face-to-face, without tricks.That is, it started with the two daggers too. All goblins were also armed with daggers and seemed not at all surprised by them, on the contrary, they were quickly in position, prepared. After facing each other for a short time, Gabriel and the 5th goblin shocked each other daggers. The two jumped back, then Gabriel took the initiative. He did several consecutive attacks.

Right, left, down, right, right.

But the goblin came out unscathed.

Damn it. I have to be faster.

He wanted to use the new skill, but he couldn't, and he knew he couldn't. Had to wait for an opening, a hesitation, but it wasn't happening. Until he got tired, and the goblin took the lead in the fight. But the 5th goblin was not as quick to attack as he was to deflect, it seemed that his movements were calculated, robotic, as if he didn't knew how to fight, had only memorized the blows. Perhaps this goblin was a novice. In somehow Gabriel saw himself in it.

This way, soon I will be able to attack, it is much easier.

Zoe was being more aggressive than Gabriel, her skill allowed that.

— Advance ... advance ... advance ... — Repeatedly used.

The goblin was lost, she moved too fast and he didn't know what to do. In fact, he had nothing to do. She attacked on both sides quickly, the 4th goblin protected, with his dagger, until, unsatisfied only in deflecting, the goblin decided to fight back, was what Zoe wanted. His arms didn't have the strength to do anything very useful, while she didn't know if she was agile enough to do that, but had to test. Zoe left an opening on purpose, and when the 4th goblin threw himself to attack her, she narrowly deflected. The goblin scratched her face a little, but she pierced his chest. She won.

— Yeah!

Larissa had a little more difficulty. The class of hunters and thieves have difficulty alone, the front line is not really their focus. However, that should not be difficult, even for them. She was waiting, on the defensive, until the goblin got tired, to go with everything. The 3rd goblin was furious, he tried to jump Larissa in the head, but she succeeded in divert without too much trouble. His blows were accurate and strong, it was probably the leader of that small group. So it was leader against leader. The goblin made a quick cut at the left side, which Larissa defended with her short sword, he quickly gave a kick in her belly and she walked away. She couldn't go on like this, she was the one who was getting tired. She knew that. The creature went up again, this time releasing several piercing attacks from the front, Larissa deflected from side to side, sometimes even to back, but it already had some scratches. She was starting to sweat, but the goblin was already much more tired, he went for another wave of attacks, Larissa, instead of dodge, defended the first, and then activated her ability:

— Double hit!

She started hitting the goblin, who looked angrier than before. Even tired, the speed of her hits remained high, the goblin, however, managed to defend the attacks, breaking the cycle. Larissa, with the end of her attacks, was exhausted, and the 3rd goblin succeeded in attacking her, he hit her left shoulder squarely.

— aaarrrrrhe!!

Laura and Miguel were on the other side of the sewer, dealing easily, it was a matter of time until Laura's two missiles are ready. Without any other scratches, Miguel was doing well to dodge and use his shield against the attacks of the 1st and 2nd goblins, mainly with the new skill.

Gabriel didn't just dodge. The fight between him and the 5th goblin was fierce, however, as the longer it lasted, the better for him. Morning workouts with Zoe were giving him stamina, he don't get tired so fast anymore. The 5th goblin jumped back, trying to reset the fight and to get breath, at that moment, Gabriel ran.

And now. It's the time.

I will do it.

He gave a kind of cart, he was going to hit the legs of the 5th goblin, who was caught surprised and had no agility to deflect. However, at the time of the coup Gabriel heard the Larissa's voice and get distracted. He looked over to where his mate was, but he didn't managed to see, because before his eyes could even focus, the 5th goblin kicked him.

— tsss! — he groaned in pain.

Damn it.

What happened?

Are they all well?

Something went wrong?

I don't fucking know!

I don't have time for this, they can manage, if I, the worst, am alive, for sure they are.

Wait, me, the worst? Since when do I find this?

AAH! no time for that.

The goblin jumped on Gabriel, who was still lying down, his dagger had fallen one little further away. The 5th goblin raised both hands high, and then lowered his two hands, who held his dagger towards Gabriel's chest. Gabriel managed to hold the goblin's arms momentarily. His face was horrible, clenching his teeth and wrinkling his nose with anger and effort. He was panting. He was panting so hard that it looked like his lungs were going to explode right there, but he knew he couldn't afford it.

Shit, they told me that a thief got easy money.

Where the hell is this easy?

He somehow managed to find the strength to push the goblin back, the knocking. So, the positions were reversed, Gabriel was on top of the 5th goblin, now with his dagger and without resistance, he stabbed him several times.

By the time Larissa screamed, Zoe was already on her way. She kicked in the 3rd goblin, who fell.

— This will hurt even more, okay? — Zoe pulled the dagger from Larissa's shoulder.

— hmmmwhuaaaa! — Larissa tried to hold but failed. The expression on her face it was horrible. Her teeth were more clenched than ever, it looked like they could break the anytime. At that moment she would rather they break than feel that pain.

— Rest, I'll take care of the rest. He is mine. Releasing her hand from her own shoulder, Larissa took the small sword from the floor and replied:

— No, he's our.

Zoe smiled broadly, then:

— Come on!

— hm! — Larissa nodded her head.

Zoe went first, she used her skill to reach the goblin who had just gotten up.

— Advance!

She struck vertically from top to bottom with her sword and the 3rd goblin, without having

how to defend himself, he put his right arm for protection, which was easily torn off. Larissa arrived shortly after, but she didn't even have to pay much effort.

— Heh, I thought it would be something more difficult after that climax.

Zoe looked surprised, but then she smiled and replied:

— I think I should have taken it easier then, hehe. — Larissa just gave a serious laugh in response.

The two looked at the goblin, who was screaming because of his arm. He looked at both angry and ran towards Larissa, who with her limp left arm, just dodged and hit him in the back.

— You piece of shit! — Larissa spat on him.

Looking at the battle site as a whole, Gabriel was lying on the side of the 5th goblin, forgetting that leptospirosis was not extinguished. While Laura and Miguel were going through the rotten water. The two were in the center of the place, so they just waited after collect things. With everyone gathered, a debate started.

— So, should we go deeper here? Laura asked. — Looks like you had a certain difficulty.

— Oh, shut up, Laura. Do me a favor and heal my throbbing shoulder.

Laura laughed. This interaction between the two was normal. It was even kinda funny. It was what Gabriel thought about Laura.

Why doesn't she like me? I mean, I never did anything to her.

Besides, I don't dislike her. Maybe I even like her.

— Moving on, yes, let's go deep. Despite everything, it was faster, and it seems that goblins here have more to profit from. Zoe, thanks just now.

— Hah? Zoe was thoughtful, she hadn't paid attention to the conversation. — Ah yes, you're welcome, just doing my part, you know.

— Yeah, yeah, I know.

After all that trouble for Zoe joining the group, I'm kind of happy with the two being friends.

However it took a while to get there.

— Well, this backpack that Laura uses to store things was really a good idea, we can even keep Zoe's map there.

With the end of Laura's healing in Larissa, the small talk ended, the other injuries they had weren't so worrying, so it wouldn't make sense to spend magic on them. They preferred not to stand still for a long time, apart from the fact that they fought time to get money, the less time they spent in that horrible environment, the better.

This fight was difficult. Definitely.

I mean, it was easy, but it was difficult. You can understand, right? I've never been more sane since I got here.

Like, of course, it was fast, for the quantity. But Larissa could have lost her arm. I Think

I have never seen any of us have a wound of this severity. It scares me a little.

Besides, I almost died because of that too.

But I think this should become a routine from now on, I'll have to get used, right?

Gabriel lost himself in his thoughts looking at the dark green ceiling of the little goblin kingdom, when Zoe called him.

— You know, your eyes. It looks like you have a dark circles or something. As if they were sleepy eyes, perhaps laziness.

Gabriel just didn't react, and without answering, the two followed.

Author's note: the chapter "depois" It was mistakenly published, please don't read it until the story gets there, or else you'll get yourself spoiled.